YANKEE 
VOLUNTEER! 


M.  I M  LAY  TAYLOR 


LIBRARY 

UNIVERSITY  O 

CALIFORNIA 

SAN  DIEGO 


presented  to  the 
UNIVERSITY  LIBRARY 
UNIVERSITY  OF  CALIFORNIA 
SAN  DIEGO 

by 
Douglas  Warren 


A  YANKEE  VOLUNTEER 


A  YANKEE  VOLUNTEER 


BY 


M.  IMLAY   TAYLOR 

AUTHOR   OF 
"ON    THE    RED   STAIRCASE,"    "AN    IMPERIAL   LOVER,"   ETC. 


SECOND    EDITION 


CHICAGO 
A.  C.  McCLURG  AND   COMPANY 


COPYRIGHT 
BY  A.  C.  MCCLURG  AND  Co. 

A.D.   1808 


All  rigkts  reserved 


Mrrttonntrlu 
TO    MY    MOTHER 


AN    INTRODUCTION. 


KEPT  sacredly  in  our  family  is  the  yellow  manuscript 
of  the  journal  of  my  great-grandfather,  John  Allen,  who 
was  a  volunteer  in  the  war  of  the  Revolution.  From 
those  worn  pages  inscribed  in  faded  ink,  I  have  selected 
and  arranged  his  account  of  the  beginning  of  that  great 
struggle,  which  was  interwoven  with  his  own  love-story. 
The  chief  interest  of  the  narrative,  as  it  seems  to  me, 
lies  in  the  fact  that  it  shows  the  early  periods  of  the 
Revolution  as  viewed  by  a  soldier  of  Massachusetts  who 
shared  all  the  privations  and  hardships  of  the  struggle. 
He  was  a  plain  and  courageous  man,  devoted  to  his  duty, 
religious,  and  true  to  his  strict  training.  Not  a  soldier 
by  education  or  by  choice,  but  rather  a  man  of  peace, 
yet  devoted  to  the  cause  for  which  he  drew  the  sword. 
He  came  of  Puritan  stock,  and  looked  askance  at  the 
vices  and  the  follies  of  the  world  of  fashion.  He  served 
with  gallantry  until  the  close  of  the  war,  and  rose  to  dis 
tinction  in  the  Continental  Army. 

In  giving  these  pages  to  the  world,  1  must  plead  my 
own  interest  in  them  as  an  excuse  for  my  hope  that 
they  may  be  of  interest  to  others. 

"JOHN   ALLEN." 

SALEM,  1898. 


CONTENTS. 


CHAPTER  PACK 

I.  REMINISCENT u 

II.  A  TORY  AND  A  PATRIOT 15 

III.  JOYCE 23 

IV.  MY  FATHER 32 

V.  I  MEET  EPHRAIM 37 

VI.  WE  JOURNEY  ON 43 

VII.  THE  FIRST  CONGRESS 50 

VIII.  I  AM  A  CAPTAIN  OF  MILITIA       ....  57 

IX.  DICK 65 

X.  AT  THE  OLD  NORTH  BRIDGE 70 

XI.  THE  CALL  TO  ARMS 78 

XII.  SIR  ANTHONY'S  DEFIANCE 87 

XIII.  WITH  THE  MINUTE-MEN 92 

XIV.  AT  THE  SIGN  OF  THE  SUN 99 

XV.  MY  RIVAL 107 

XVI.  A  MIDNIGHT  VIGIL 114 

XVII.  THE  CONFLICT 123 

XVIII.  THE  CONTINENTAL  CAMP 131 

XIX.  EPHRAIM'S  PRISONER 140 

XX.  A  PURITAN  CONSCIENCE 149 

XXI.  I    SURRENDER    MY    SWORD     ......  155 

XXII.  EPHRAIM'S  VICTORY 163 


X  CONTENTS. 

CHAPTER  PACK 

XXIII.  A  TURN  IN  THE  TIDE 170 

XXIV.  SUSPENSE 184 

XXV.  AN  OLIVE  BRANCH 193^ 

XXVI.  SIR  ANTHONY  AT  BAY 201 

XXVII.  THE  WHITE  COCKADE 208 

XXVIII.  ROYALIST  AND  REBEL 218 

XXIX.  DEATH  KEEPS  HIS  OWN  ACCOUNT   .     .  228 

XXX.  I  JOURNEY  SOUTHWARD 239 

XXXI.  DOROTHY  WAYNE 248 

XXXI  I.  CORBIE'S  TAVERN 256 

XXXIII.  CONSPIRACY  CONFOUNDED 266 

XXXIV.  THE  FORTUNE  OF  WAR 273 

XXXV.  Ax  ANGEL  OF  MERCY 282 

XXXVI.  TIDINGS 293 

XXXVII.  LOVE'S  ENTERPRISE 300 

XXXVIII.  A  LOVERS'  QUARREL 307 

XXXIX.  A  YOUNG  TURNCOAT 315 

XL.  RECONNOISSANCE 325 

XLI.  GENERAL  HOWE 332 

XLII.  DOROTHY  ONCE  MORE 343 

XLI  1 1.  LOVE  IN  PRISON 350 

XLIV.  EPHRAIM  WEARS  THE  KING'S  UNIFORM  358 

XLV.  A  DESPERATE  CHARGE 365 

XLVI.  THE  SUN  SHINES  THROUGH  THE  CLOUDS  374 

XLVII.  A  ROYALIST  SURRENDERS 379 


A  YANKEE  VOLUNTEER. 


CHAPTER    I. 

REMINISCENT. 

MY  earliest  recollections  are  of  the  old  house  in 
Salem.  Through  the  great  window  in  the  hall,  I 
had  my  first  glimpse  of  Massachusetts  Bay.  As  a 
child,  I  loved  to  climb  upon  the  window-seat  and 
watch  the  shimmer  of  the  sunlight  on  the  water,  until 
my  eyes  were  dazzled,  and  could  no  longer  see  the 
gulls  dipping  in  the  spray.  When  the  storm  clouds 
gathered  angrily,  piling  up  in  purple  masses,  way  off 
behind  the  ocean,  I  watched  breathlessly  and  counted 
the  waves,  or  tried  to  count  them,  as  they  rose  and  fell, 
until  the  sea,  grown  gray  and  purple  in  its  anger,  was 
breaking,  breaking  in  white -caps,  far  as  the  eye  could 
reach.  My  childish  mind,  fed  full  on  Scripture,  recalled 
always  those  words,  "  deep  calleth  unto  deep."  The 
love  and  awe  of  the  ocean  grew  with  my  growth,  and 
now,  in  my  old  age,  the  throbbing  of  the  tide  sends  a 
responsive  thrill  through  my  being,  while  the  keen  salt 
wind  upon  my  cheek  revives  both  life  and  hope,  even 
when  my  spirit  faints  within  me. 

Always  the  ocean  and  the  marshes,  where  the  marsh 
rosemary  bloomed,  and  beyond  these  the  nigged  moor- 


12  A    YANKEE    VOLUNTEER. 

lands,  the  gray  bowlders  breaking  here  and  there  through 
the  short  turf,  and  behind  all,  the  dark  line  of  woodland  ; 
above,  the  sky,  blue,  with  great  drifts  of  soft  white 
clouds.  Against  this  background,  the  slender,  girlish 
figure  and  the  charming,  tender  face  of  Joyce.  So  I 
think  of  her  always,  so  will  I  think  of  her  until  I  die. 
So  did  I  see  her  first,  a  little  maid,  with  her  hands  full 
of  wild  rose  blooms  and  the  bloom  of  the  roses  in  her 
cheeks,  and  I  loved  her,  being  but  a  lad  myself.  We 
were  little  sweethearts,  and  I  remember  how  I  helped 
her  to  gather  shells  upon  the  beach,  and  how  the  tide 
ran  up  and  kissed  her  rosy  feet,  her  shoes  and  stockings 
being  high  upon  a  rock  where  she  had  left  them,  safe 
from  the  water.  My  love  for  her,  born  so  early,  colored 
all  my  life.  After  all  is  said,  we  love  but  once  thus 
well.  Come  it  soon  or  come  it  late,  it  comes  but  once. 
Love,  of  a  truth,  has  many  names,  as  it  has  many  faces  ; 
but  pure  love,  God  given,  is  but  once  in  a  lifetime  and 
to  eternity.  There  is  that  which  men  call  love,  —  of 
the  world,  of  the  flesh,  of  the  devil,  —  all  these  things 
be ;  yet  is  there  but  one  love,  and  that  I  felt  for  Joyce 
Talbot.  And  she  loved  me  again,  not  so  deeply  as  I,  — 
how  should  she?  —  but  sweetly,  tenderly,  and,  I  thought, 
truly,  never  doubting  her  but  once,  and  then  —  But  I 
must  tell  the  story  as  it  happened.  We  were  happy  in 
each  other  and  content  with  all  the  world,  until  our 
hour  of  trial  came,  as  it  came  to  all  in  those  days. 

We  colonists  of  the  Massachusetts  Bay  were  the  first 
to  suffer  and  the  first  to  draw  the  sword  that  was  to 
bring  such  misery  to  the  land ;  baptizing  it  in  its  own 
blood,  to  a  new  life  and  to  liberty.  You  who  were  not 
born  then  or  were  children  can  never  know  the  struggle 
that  it  cost  us  to  cut  the  ties  of  love  and  duty  that 
bound  us,  like  threads  of  gold,  to  the  Mother  England. 


REMINISCENT.  1 3 

When  one  oppressive  act  of  Parliament  followed  upon 
the  heels  of  another,  we  awoke  to  the  dark  necessity 
that  was  upon  us.  The  -old  sword  and  older  musket 
that  had  rusted  on  the  wall  since  the  Indian  wars,  were 
taken  down  and  polished,  and,  on  every  hand,  men 
looked  in  each  other's  faces  for  a  friend  or  a  foe,  and 
ofttimes  they  were  of  our  own  household  or  our 
nearest  kin. 

My  father,  John  Allen,  for  whom  I  was  named,  was 
a  judge  of  the  Court  of  Massachusetts  Bay,  and  my 
great-grandfather  was  with  Cromwell  at  Naseby.  We 
were  Presbyterians  of  Puritan  stock,  and  there  was  iron 
in  the  blood.  My  father  was  for  the  Commonwealth ; 
her  father,  Sir  Anthony  Talbot,  was  for  the  king;  and 
so  it  stood.  But  a  twelvemonth  before,  Joyce  was 
promised  to  be  my  wife,  but  now  there  was  neither 
giving  in  marriage  nor  talk  of  it. 

It  was  past  midsummer ;  the  asters  were  blooming  on 
the  moors,  and  the  pokeberries  were  red  as  wine  by 
the  wayside.  In  the  morning  a  purple  haze  lay  at  the 
horizon,  and  at  noonday  a  golden  light  shone  on  the 
uplands,  and  there  had  been  a  full  harvest.  It  was  late 
in  August,  in  the  year  of  our  Lord  1774,  and  the  Port 
Bill  had  closed  the  port  of  Boston.  His  Majesty's  col 
lector  of  customs  was  at  Salem,  and  all  the  bay  was 
crowded  with  shipping,  while  in  Boston  the  poor  were 
starving  and  the  rich  grew  poor,  since  trade  was  cut 
off  and  the  troopers  were  quartered  on  the  town. 
Through  the  colonies  of  North  America  there  was 
the  murmur  of  discontent,  the  low  sound  to  arms.  We 
were  treading  on  the  edge  of  a  precipice,  and  a  touch 
would  hurl  us  in  the  chasm.  Wise  men  pondered  and 
were  troubled,  while  fools  babbled  in  the  market-place. 

My  h^eart  was  heavy,  for  Joyce  and  I  were  not  of  the 


14  A    YANKEE    VOLUNTEER. 

same  mind,  and  her  father  and  her  brother  would  find 
a  cause  to  quarrel  with  my  opinions  and  my  father's. 
In  those  times  men  were  ready  to  die  for  their  con 
victions,  and  many  a  tender  tie  was  thus  forever  sun 
dered.  Verily,  it  seemed  that  the  end  of  all  things 
was  at  hand ;  yet  the  golden  days  went  on,  and  the 
tides  rose  and  fell,  while  we  watched  and  waited  for 
the  hour.  And  over  the  seas  the  king,  blinded  by 
fate,  saw  not  the  hand  that  wrote  upon  the  wall. 


CHAPTER   II. 

A  TORY   AND   A   PATRIOT. 

WELL  do  I  remember  the  day  when  the  first  breach 
in  an  old  friendship  was  made.  My  father  and  I  had 
been  all  the  forenoon  in  court,  where  the  judges  sat, 
with  the  king's  arms  suspended  above  their  heads  and 
their  hearts  heavy  with  the  king's  injustice.  The  court 
house  stood  upon  Townhouse  Lane,  and  beside  it,  on  the 
corner  of  Essex  Street,  was  the  old  First  Church.  Part 
ing  from  our  friends,  my  father  and  I  walked  through 
the  groups  of  curious  townsfolk  who  stood  gaping  at  the 
door  of  the  town  hall,  and  passed  on  together  down 
Essex  Street  to  our  home.  It  was  a  perfect  day  ;  there 
had  been  a  fog  at  morning,  but,  a  fresh  breeze  blowing  it 
seaward,  it  floated  like  a  long  white  feather  between  the 
sea  and  sky.  The  ocean  was  calm  and  blue,  with  a 
shadow  of  purple  in  the  bosom  of  each  gentle  wave  and 
the  sunlight  glancing  white  upon  its  crests.  The  salt  in 
the  air  tempered  the  heat  of  midday,  and  the  light  wind 
set  the  foliage  of  the  elm-trees  quivering. 

My  father's  heart  was  full  of  many  and  deep  anxieties, 
and,  mine  being  weighted  too,  we  spoke  but  little  as  we 
walked,  and,  indeed,  it  was  a  short  way  to  our  home. 
The  old  house  stood  back  a  little  space  from  Essex 
Street,  and  a  solid  homely  house  it  was.  The  main  part 
was  square,  and  there  was  a  wing  on  either  hand,  but 
toward  the  rear,  so  that  it  was  something  shaped  like 
the  letter  T.  The  whole  was  of  wood,  and  painted  buff; 


1 6  A    YANKEE    VOLUNTEER. 

it  was  two  stories  high,  the  roof  flat,  and  many  little 
panes  of  glass  in  every  window.  The  front  door  was 
white,  and  on  the  upper  panels  was  a  scrollwork  of  roses 
and  leaves,  and  the  great  brass  knocker  was  a  lion's 
head,  grasping  the  ring  in  its  teeth.  This  door  was  in 
the  center  of  the  house,  and  the  roof  of  the  portico  was 
supported  by  four  great  pillars,  white  also,  and  fluted. 
The  garden  before  the  entrance  was  ever  in  precise 
and  lovely  order,  for  it  was  the  charge  and  pride  of  my 
Aunt  Dorcas,  my  father's  maiden  sister,  who  ordered  the 
house,  my  mother  having  died  when  I  was  born.  The 
short  turf  was  beautifully  green,  and  on  either  side  the 
gravel  path  bloomed  double  rows  of  prim- faced  asters, 
in  blue  and  purple  and  deep  pink.  A  late  climbing  rose 
twined  its  tendrils  about  one  of  the  pillars  of  the  portico, 
and  filled  the  air  with  its  delicate  fragrance. 

As  my  father  and  I  reached  the  gate,  we  perceived, 
for  the  first  time,  the  visitor  before  our  door.  He  stood 
there  waiting,  but  bristling  with  impatience ;  a  portly 
man,  long  past  middle  age,  richly  dressed  and  in  the 
finest  fashion  of  the  day,  from  his  polished  shoe-buckles 
and  black  silk  stockings  with  embroidered  clocks  to  his 
gay  waistcoat  and  maroon  velvet  coat  and  breeches.  His 
countenance  was  rubicund,  the  full  cheeks  purpling  to 
ward  the  ears,  and  strongly  marked  black  brows  scowled 
above  small  bright  eyes ;  his  mouth  was  full,  and  there 
was  much  full  flesh  below  his  chin,  which  rested  on  the 
costly  lace  ruffles  at  his  throat.  His  violent  and  aggres 
sive  temper,  clear  stamped  upon  his  face,  peeped  out  too 
in  every  outline  of  his  figure,  and  in  the  grasp  he  had 
upon  his  heavy,  gold-headed  cane,  which  he  held  ever  in 
the  middle  and  brandished  like  a  club.  My  heart  sank 
at  the  sight  of  him  ;  coming  so  and  upon  that  day,  there 
could  be  but  one  issue,  and  my  father  felt  it  too.  He 


A    TORY  AND  A   PATRIOT.  \"J 

looked  at  me  with  grave  significance,  but  said  nothing, 
save  those  two  words  :  "  Sir  Anthony  !  " 

As  we  entered  the  gate,  our  visitor,  turning  about  upon 
the  steps,  saw  us  and  came  down  to  meet  my  father. 
Sharp  was  the  contrast  between  these  two,  both  in  bear 
ing  and  in  appearance,  my  father's  manner  being  full  of 
grave  reserve,  of  quiet  dignity ;  Sir  Anthony's  loud, 
boisterous,  domineering,  and  aggressive,  as  he  was  at 
heart. 

"  A  fair  day  to  you,  good  neighbor  Allen,"  he  ex 
claimed  in  his  harsh  voice.  "  I  was  going  away  when  I 
saw  you." 

'•  I  trust  that  you  will  never  leave  my  threshold  with 
out  tasting  my  hospitality,"  my  father  replied  cour 
teously.  "  Dorcas  is  within,  and  would  have  cheerfully 
entertained  you  until  my  return." 

But  Sir  Anthony's  mind  was  dwelling  upon  other 
things,  and  he  scarce  heeded  this  friendly  response. 

"  I  came  to  Salem  upon  a  business  errand,"  said  he, 
"  and  I  find  the  town  a  hotbed  of  sedition.  I  could  not 
go  away  without  seeing  you.  A  magistrate  should  set  an 
example  to  these  knaves,  and  teach  them  to  respect 
the  royal  authority." 

My  father  was  upon  the  steps  and  made  no  answer, 
and  I  held  my  tongue.  Here  was  likely  to  be  trouble 
enough  ;  and  I,  thinking  of  Joyce,  strove  to  curb  my  tem 
per  and  avoid  the  dispute.  But  Sir  Anthony  was  eager 
for  the  fray,  and  it  is  my  belief  that  he  did  it  all  to  try 
my  father. 

"  I  have  heard,"  he  went  on,  "  that  John  Hancock 
and  others  will  go  to  this  Congress  at  Philadelphia,  — 
this  rebel  hive !  It  is  an  outrage,  an  insult  to  the 
crown." 

Still  my  father  forbore  to  answer  him  a  word.    We  had 


1 8  A    YANKEE    VOLUNTEER. 

entered  the  hall,  and  I  remember  to  this  day  how  it 
looked  as  we  came  in.  It  was  low-ceiled  and  wainscoted 
high  with  black  walnut,  and  opposite  the  door  was  the 
great  window  of  my  childish  love ;  outside  it  swung  the 
tendrils  of  a  coral  honeysuckle  which  had  yet  some  sprays 
of  bloom,  and  beyond  the  bit  of  garden  and  the  field 
the  bay  sparkled  in  the  sunshine.  The  floor  of  the  hall 
was  polished,  and  the  ceiling  and  the  walls  above  the 
wainscoting  were  tinted  blue,  like  a  robin's  egg.  The 
sword  that  my  great-grandfather  wore  at  Naseby  hung 
above  the  fireplace,  and  there,  too,  was  the  shield  that 
another  ancestor  carried  at  Flodden.  My  Aunt  Dorcas 
greeted  us  in  the  hall,  but  we  went  on  and  entered  the 
library.  A  great  room  it  was,  lined  on  every  side  with 
books,  dear  to  me  as  old  and  faithful  friends,  and  fur 
nished  with  great  chairs  that  invited  you  to  rest.  My 
father  motioned  to  his  guest  to  be  seated,  and  himself  sat 
down  in  his  own  chair  by  the  table.  His  face  was  un 
usually  pale  and  grave,  and  he  leaned  his  cheek  upon  his 
hand  as  he  looked  at  Sir  Anthony.  My  father  was  a 
handsome  man,  and  it  has  ever  been  my  greatest  vanity 
that  I  was  deemed  like  him  ;  they  called  me  his  image, 
but  truly  I  know  that  I  was  never  so  well  favored.  He 
was  of  medium  height,  and  to  the  day  of  his  last  illness 
powerful  and  vigorous,  with  broad  shoulders  and  chest 
and  a  noble  head.  His  eyes  were  large  and  of  a  clear 
brown  color,  —  hazel,  I  believe  it  is  called,  —  with  a  glance 
that  was  marvellous  penetrating  yet  withal  kind.  His 
brow  was  fine,  and  he  wore  a  powdered  wig  tied  back  in 
a  queue  bag  with  black  ribbons,  which  hid  his  own  gray 
hair,  to  my  displeasure.  He  wore  that  day  a  suit  of 
black  velvet  with  a  waistcoat  of  brocaded  satin,  but  not 
gay,  as  was  then  the  fashion,  for  his  taste  was  sober  and 
he  had  long  worn  mourning.  It  was  chiefly  his  look 


A    TORY  AND  A   PATRIOT.  19 

and  bearing  that  revealed  the  calm  dignity  of  his  exalted 
character ;  he  stood  foremost  in  the  ranks  of  Massachu 
setts  statesmen.  On  that  day  he  showed  more  than 
his  usual  repose,  as  if  he  had  prepared  his  mind  to  meet 
the  petty  tempest  of  his  opponent's  temper.  Eager  to 
avoid  the  quarrel,  I  took  a  place  in  the  window  recess 
and  held  my  tongue,  with  all  the  patience  that  I  could ; 
and  truly  it  was  a  scene  to  watch  without  playing  any 
part  therein,  Sir  Anthony  having  no  mind  to  drop  the 
matter  or  to  let  it  rest. 

"  We  have  reached  a  pretty  pass,"  he  went  on 
angrily.  "  Here  is  Mr.  Gage  struggling  to  keep  the  peace 
in  Boston,  and  sedition  breaking  out  all  over  this  colony, 
and  rampant,  too,  in  Pennsylvania  and  Virginia.  The 
governor  has  thrust  his  hand  into  a  hornet's  nest,  and  the 
air  is  full  of  noxious  insects.  It  is  time  that  every  loyal 
subject  of  the  king  should  show  his  colors.  It  is  doubly 
important  that  you,  Allen,  should,  as  a  magistrate,  set 
an  example  to  these  rebels." 

"  You  use  a  hard  word,  Sir  Anthony,"  my  father 
replied  calmly.  "The  colonists  of  Massachusetts  are 
contending  for  certain  inalienable  rights.  There  is  some 
unadvised  heat  in  their  counsels,  but,  on  the  whole,  it 
appears  to  me  that  their  course  has  been  moderate." 

"  Moderate  !  "  exclaimed  Sir  Anthony  hotly,  the  purple 
deepening  in  his  full  cheeks.  "  On  my  soul,  I  am  glad 
you  think  so !  I  have  always  regarded  you,  John 
Allen,  as  an  upright  man,  and  I  trust  that  you  are  jus 
tified  in  making  such  a  statement.  These  colonies 
owe  everything  to  England,  and  if  you  can  find  any 
other  name  than  rebellion  for  this  seditious  refusal  to 
.accept  the  acts  of  Parliament,  right  glad  should  I  be  to 
hear  it." 

The  lines  about  my  father's  mouth  hardened,  which 


2O  A    YAA7A'EE    VOLUNTEER. 

was  a  dangerous  sign  with  him.  Both  men  watched 
each  other  keenly,  and  in  my  interest  I  well  nigh  forgot 
my  anxiety.  It  was  a  picture ;  these  two  disputants 
were  as  opposed  by  nature  as  they  were  unlike  in 
appearance,  the  flushed  fat  face  and  fiery  eyes  of  the 
old  knight  being  in  strange  contrast  to  the  calm  stern 
features  and  clear  eyes  of  his  opponent. 

"  We  have  agreed  to  differ  once  before,  Sir  Anthony," 
my  father  said.  "  I  feel  too  strongly  on  the  chartered 
rights  of  Massachusetts  to  discuss  the  matter  from  your 
standpoint.  Nor  could  you  justify  the  decree  to  send 
prisoners  to  England  to  trial  for  treason  and  misprision 
of  treason.  That  a  man  shall  be  tried  by  jury  from  the 
vicinage,  is  a  sacred  right.  An  act  of  Parliament  that 
strikes  at  the  root  of  the  tree  of  liberty  must  be  resisted. 
I  should  be  false  alike  to  my  conscience  and  my  oath  if 
I  counselled  the  colonists  of  Massachusetts  Bay  to  sur 
render  the  inalienable  privileges  of  the  citizen  and  the 
divine  rights  of  freedom." 

"  You  say  nothing,  however,  of  the  divine  right  of 
kings,"  exclaimed  Sir  Anthony,  bitterly.  "  Shame  on  you, 
Allen,  you  have  let  the  poison  creep  into  your  mind.  I 
believed  you  to  be  a  loyal  man,  as  you  should  be.  A 
magistrate  of  the  king's  and  encouraging  rebellion  !  " 

My  father's  cheek  flushed  deeply,  and  my  face  was 
burning. 

"  I  am  still  a  loyal  subject  of  the  King  of  Great 
Britain,"  my  father  replied  haughtily;  "but  I  will  not 
forget  the  duty  that  I  owe  to  my  God,  my  conscience, 
and  my  country." 

"  In  other  words,  Judge  Allen,"  cried  Sir  Anthony, 
passionately,  "  you  are  ripe  for  sedition.  You  approve, 
I  presume,  of  this  Congress  at  Philadelphia?" 

"  So  much  that  I  purpose  to  be  present,"  replied  my 


A    TORY  AND  A   PATRIOT.  21 

father  calmly,  forbearing  to  take  offence  at  the  violent 
manner  of  his  visitor. 

Sir  Anthony  rose  ;  the  blood  had  rushed  to  his  face. 

"  You  purpose  going  to  Philadelphia  with  that  rebel 
John  Hancock,  to  unite  with  these  men  who  have 
forgotten  their  allegiance?  Nay,  Allen,  you  jest !  " 

My  father's  hands  were  resting  on  the  arms  of  his 
chair,  and  he  leaned  a  little  forward  as  he  looked  at  his 
friend's  angry  face. 

"  Sir  Anthony,"  he  replied  deliberately,  "  I  regard  the 
policy  of  the  ministry  as  a  violation  of  our  liberty.  I 
am  in  full  sympathy  with  every  moderate  act  of  remon 
strance,  and  I  am  determined  to  defend  the  chartered 
rights,  not  only  of  Massachusetts  Bay,  but  of  every 
colony  of  North  America.  Unhappily,  we  have  proved 
the  futility  of  petitions  to  the  king;  there  remains  a 
higher  duty  than  that  of  unquestioning  obedience  to  the 
crown.  It  has  cost  Great  Britain  nothing,  in  men  or 
money,  to  maintain  her  colonies  here  :  the  Americans 
have  been  governed  by  the  pen.  If  our  allegiance  is 
shaken,  the  fault  lies  with  the  home  government.  No 
patriotic  man  can  surrender  the  liberties  of  his  country 
without  a  struggle,  however  deeply  he  may  deplore  the 
hard  necessity." 

"  In  a  word,  Judge  Allen,  you  are  prepared  to  rebel 
against  your  king,"  our  visitor  cried  out  with  violence. 
"  I  cannot  see  the  difference  between  such  a  patriot  and 
a  traitor  !  " 

My  father  rose  at  this ;  but  I,  being  filled  with  wrath, 
could  forbear  no  longer,  and  sprang  up. 

"  Sir  Anthony,  this  passes  —  "  I  began ;  but  my  father 
silenced  me  with  a  stern  gesture  as  he  stepped 
between. 

"Sir  Anthony  is  a  guest  in  my  house,  and  as  such 


22  A    YANKEE    VOLUNTEER. 

commands  my  patience,"  he  said  slowly ;  "  but  no  Allen 
can  endure  that  name,  not  from  his  dearest  friend  !  " 

"  Nay,  be  not  bound  by  your  hospitality,"  Talbot 
retorted  fiercely,  reaching  for  his  hat.  "  I  have  no  love 
for  such  fine  courtesy.  I  am  a  plain  man,  and  I  see  my 
duty  plainly.  Fine  words  be  far  from  me,  but  loyal  sub 
jects  of  King  George  have  naught  in  common  with  the 
rebels  of  Massachusetts.  I  bid  you  a  good-day,  sir." 

My  father  bowed  gravely,  the  fire  kindling  in  his 
brown  eyes ;  but  he  forgot  not  his  dignity,  nor  that  he 
was  a  host.  He  was  cooler,  too,  than  I,  at  that  moment, 
and  .saw  beyond  hot  words  the  breach  in  an  old  friend 
ship.  With  all  the  patience  that  was  left  me,  I  went  to 
the  door  and  opened  it  for  Sir  Anthony,  striving  to 
remember  his  white  hairs  and  who  he  was ;  and  he,  see 
ing  me,  stopped  short  and  stood  a  moment  staring  and 
breathing  hard.  His  great  figure  quivered  with  anger, 
and  his  red  face  puffed  out  below  the  ears. 

"  As  for  you,  sir,"  he  said,  "  your  engagement  to  my 
daughter  is  broken.  No  Talbot  weds  a  traitor  !  " 

I  drew  myself  up  proudly.  "  I  will  accept  my  dis 
missal  from  no  one  but  Joyce,"  I  replied  sternly. 

"You  will  not,  eh?  "  Sir  Anthony  eyed  me  fiercely. 
"  You  shall  have  it  from  her,  then,  sir,  —  you  shall  have 
it,  and  that  before  another  sunset." 

My  anger  and  another  emotion,  far  deeper,  rising  in 
my  throat,  I  answered  only  with  a  grave  bow,  as  he 
passed  out  and  went  fuming  through  the  hall  into  the 
street.  How  easily  is  an  old  tie  broken  and  a  friend 
turned  into  a  foe,  and  at  the  moment,  wrath  blinding 
the  eyes,  there  is  neither  forbearance  nor  regret.  But 
after  I  had  closed  the  door  upon  him  and  upon  that 
chapter  of  my  life,  I  had  no  thought  but  of  Joyce  — 
and  Joyce  was  his  child. 


CHAPTER    III. 
JOYCE. 

THIS  breach  between  my  father  and  Sir  Anthony  was 
but  the  beginning  of  my  troubles.  I  had  no  mind  to 
let  his  violence  come  between  me  and  my  love,  nor 
did  I  believe  that  it  would  be  so.  It  had  been  my 
purpose  to  go  to  Joyce  that  day,  but  a  heavy  storm  of 
rain  and  lightning  coming  on  delayed  me,  for  the  Tal- 
bots  lived  not  in  Salem  but  at  Marblehead.  Therefore, 
before  I  had  started  out  upon  my  way,  came  riding, 
post-haste,  a  messenger  with  this  curt  note  from  Sir 
Anthony  himself,  — 

SIR,  —  My  daughter,  Joyce  Talbot,  being  herself  loyal, 
has  neither  love  nor  friendship  for  traitors,  and,  you  being 
such,  she  bids  you  farewell. .  Nor  need  you  seek  her  here,  for 
my  door  is  closed  on  rebels.  Bidding  you  good  speed  upon 
your  road  —  which  you  have  chosen — to  the  devil,  not  I 
sending  you,  but  you  yourself,  I  am,  sir, 
The  king's  loyal  subject, 

ANTHONY  TALBOT. 

Being  angry,  I  tore  the  paper  up,  and,  for  the  moment, 
my  heart  was  bitter  against  Joyce.  I  sent  my  horse 
back  to  the  stable ;  surely,  thought  I,  there  shall  be  no 
hard  riding  to-night  upon  a  thankless  errand !  Yet 
before  morning  I  had  repented  of  my  hasty  resentment ; 
I  knew  how  unjust  it  was  to  judge  her  by  her  father, 
who  was  a  tyrant  in  his  home,  brooking  no  remon 
strance,  and  had  doubtless  made  her  suffer  for  my  sake. 


24  A    YANKEE    VOLUNTEEK. 

At  this  thought  my  heart  overflowed  with  love  and  for 
giveness  for  her,  and,  anxious  for  a  sight  of  her  sweet 
face,  I  was  early  in  the  saddle,  and  rode  down  Turner's 
Lane  to  the  Marblehead  ferry,  which  had  now  accom 
modations  for  horses,  so  that  I  could  cross  conveniently. 

The  boat  went  across  to  Haskell's  Cove,  a  little  west  of 
Naugus  Head ;  and  there  we  landed,  and  I  turned  my 
horse's  head  at  once  toward  the  town.  Here,  on  either 
side,  were  open  fields,  and  the  quiet  of  morning  was 
upon  the  scene ;  in  the  salt  meadows  the  cows  were 
grazing,  and  almost  the  only  sound  I  heard  was  the  bell 
upon  the  leader's  neck.  Along  the  roadside  the  wild- 
flowers  were  blooming  side  by  side  with  the  little  white 
everlasting  which  blossoms  where  the  salt  wind  blows. 
The  fresh  morning  and  the  brisk  trotting  of  my  horse 
set  my  blood  stirring ;  the  anger  and  anxieties  of  the 
night  seemed  but  a  dream,  and  no  part  or  parcel  of 
this  which  was  my  life.  Much  in  this  world  is  naught 
but  hope,  and  without  it  we  should  perish  miserably. 

It  may  deceive  us,  —  how  oft  it  does  !  —  but  if  we  saw 
the  reality,  naked  as  it  is,  how  few  of  us  could  live  to  face 
it !  Hope  is  an  angel,  the  brightness  of  whose  face 
blinds  the  eyes  unto  the  chastening  rod,  —  hope  and 
charity,  says  the  Apostle,  and  charity  is  love ;  so  love 
and  hope  are  twin  angels,  and  without  them  we  are  not 
in  life,  but  death.  Then  my  heart  was  full  of  tender 
fancies,  and  I  was  not  awakened  yet  to  see  that  duty 
lay  between,  and  that  I  was  called  upon  to  choose.  A 
man  full  grown  and  sharing  all,  or  nearly  all,  my  father's 
cares,  and  yet  I  was  not  roused.  It  came  soon  enough, 
and  broke  the  pleasant  tenor  of  my  ways ;  but  I  was  a 
dreamer  then,  and  happier  so,  for  dreams  are  happier 
than  life.  And  dreaming  of  Joyce,  I  rode  into  the  old 
town  upon  the  sea. 


JOYCE.  25 

A  large  and  populous  settlement  was  Marblehead. 
Here  many  a  bold  seaman  was  trained  to  battle  for  the 
cause  so  soon  to  be  an  issue  between  man  and  his 
brother.  The  town  was  perched  high  upon  a  rocky 
promontory  with  battlements  of  rugged  cliffs,  and  below, 
the  Atlantic  beat  and  throbbed  in  ceaseless  monotone. 
Wind-swept,  and  moist  with  driving  spray,  the  gray  and 
weather-beaten  houses  of  the  fisher  folk  nestled  upon  the 
rugged  hill,  and  the  streets,  which  were  but  the  old 
foot-paths  and  cow-paths  of  the  first  settlement,  were 
twisted  in  a  maze ;  but  on  every  hand  bloomed  homely 
flower-gardens  which  seemed  to  draw  a  richer  beauty 
and  a  deeper  fragrance  from  the  heavy  dews  and  the 
salt  air.  Here  and  there  large  and  fine  mansions 
bespoke  the  richer  townfolk,  and  Saint  Michael's 
Church  stood  in  the  midst. 

Heeding  not  Sir  Anthony's  admonition,  I  rode  straight 
to  his  door,  and  there  dismounting  gave  my  horse  in 
charge  of  a  village  lad,  who  knew  me,  for  I  had  little 
hope  of  a  hospitable  reception,  yet  was  determined  to 
see  my  sweetheart.  I  searched  the  house  with  my 
eyes  as  I  approached,  in  the  hope  of  seeing  her,  but 
there  was  no  sign.  It  was  a  double  house,  two  stories 
high,  with  a  gabled  roof  and  pointed  windows,  and  the 
front  faced  the  road  and  the  rear  overlooked  the  sea. 
The  brown  shingled  roof  was  weather-stained,  and  great 
brick  chimneys  rose  at  either  end  between  the  gables ; 
the  great  hall  ran  through  the  center,  with  a  door  at 
either  side,  and  the  house  stood  in  the  midst  of  a  flower- 
garden,  while  at  the  back  was  the  orchard.  One  of  the 
old  servants,  answering  my  summons,  told  me  with  much 
sorrow  that  I  was  forbidden,  and  then,  because  of  his 
sympathy  and  my  persistence,  whispered  that  Joyce 
was  gone  down  by  the  water,  where  I  would  find  her. 


26  A    YANKEE    VOLUNTEER. 

Knowing  well  her  favorite  nook,  I  went  upon  my  way, 
though  my  blood  was  hot  at  the  thought  that  I  was 
refused  admittance  to  her  home,  which  had  been  as  a 
second  home  to  me.  I  passed  around  the  house,  in 
defiance  of  Sir  Anthony,  and  walked  through  the  gar 
den  to  the  gate.  Beneath  the  windows  bloomed  late 
roses  and  sweet  peas,  and  raindrops  still  sparkled  on 
the  velvet  faces  of  the  pansies.  Hollyhocks  bloomed 
beside  the  rich-hued  asters  in  one  corner,  while  in  the 
other  red  geraniums  grew  before  the  low  fence  that  was 
hidden  by  the  clustering  beauty  of  the  gay  nasturtiums, 
trailing  their  golden  blossoms,  storm-beaten,  in  wild 
confusion  ;  the  round  leaves  turning  in  the  wind  until 
the  under  sides  showed  like  whitish  green  disks  against 
the  brilliant  flowers.  Beyond  these,  in  the  kitchen 
garden,  the  yellow  pumpkins  peeped  out  from  under 
their  broad  leaves,  where  the  vines  had  escaped  from 
among  the  corn-stalks  and  were  running  riot  in  the 
long  grass  ;  and  farther  yet,  was  the  orchard,  where  the 
pear  and  apple  trees  were  laden  with  fruit.  Beaten 
by  the  tempest,  branches  lay  upon  the  ground,  and  here 
and  there  an  apple  or  a  pear  half  mellow,  fallen  in  the 
wind.  Looking  through,  between  the  trees,  I  could 
see  the  stretch  of  the  Atlantic  and  the  keen  line  of  the 
horizon,  where  the  ocean,  darkly  blue,  came  sharply 
against  the  opalescent  hues  that  softened  the  blue  rim 
of  the  sky.  I  passed  out  the  wicket  gate,  and  turning 
from  the  town  went  down  the  beaten  path  toward 
the  cliffs.  The  harbor  was  empty,  for  the  fishing- 
smacks  had  gone  out  with  the  early  morning,  and 
from  the  wharves  came  only  the  shrill  voices  of  children 
at  play.  My  way  lay  along  the  water's  edge,  and  below 
me  the  rocks  were  broken  in  deep  rifts,  where  the 
waves  beat  and  the  spray  rose  and  fell.  Green  turf, 


JOYCE.  27 

starred  here  and  there  with  wild-flowers,  grew  on  the 
cliffs  above,  and  sometimes  a  hardy  blossom  showed  its 
face  in  a  crevice  upon  the  sheer  side  of  the  battlement. 
The  tide  was  going  out,  and  inch  by  inch  the  brown 
seaweed  rose  higher  above  the  water,  its  long  twisting 
strands  and  yellow  bubbles  glistening  in  the  sun 
shine.  Here  and  there  a  starfish  lay  beached  upon  a 
rock,  and  in  the  deep  still  pools  left  by  the  retreating 
waves  were  tiny  fish ;  farther  out,  the  sea-gulls  darted 
in  the  spray.  Before  me  was  the  point  of  land  that 
runs  out  from  Marblehead  itself  and  twists  like  a  finger 
in  the  sea,  sheltering  the  harbor ;  and  beyond  was  the 
vast  stretch  of  the  deep. 

In  this  solitary  spot,  where  the  great  cliffs  formed  a 
sheltered  nook,  alone  with  her  dog  as  a  guardian  and  a 
companion,  was  Joyce.  Seeing  her  before  she  saw  me,  I 
paused,  watching  her  with  a  full  heart,  thinking  that  I  had 
never  seen  her  half  so  fair  or  sweet,  or  with  so  sad  a 
shadow  on  her  lovely  face.  What  she  was  and  how  she 
looked  to  me  is  ever  hard  to  put  in  words,  yet  the  picture 
that  she  made  that  day  was  framed  in  my  heart  forever. 
She  sat  upon  a  rock,  resting  her  chin  in  the  hollow  of 
her  hand  and  looking  at  the  sea,  while  at  her  feet  lay 
Laddie,  the  great  collie  dog.  When  she  was  standing, 
I  know  not  what  her  stature  was,  but,  as  Shakespeare 
has  it,  she  stood  "  just  as  high  as  my  heart ;  "  and  she 
was  slender,  with  a  grace  that  reminded  me  of  some 
tall  reed  swaying  gently  in  the  breeze,  and  her  face 
was  like  a  rose,  soft-tinted,  delicately  white  and  red. 
In  her  cheek  was  one  deep  dimple,  where  the  angel 
had  kissed  her,  as  the  legend  runs.  Her  hair  was 
brown,  with  touches  of  gold  where  it  rippled  on  her 
brow  and  neck,  refusing  to  obey  its  careful  training;  it 
was  the  fashion  to  wear  it  dressed  marvellously  high 


28  A    YANKEE    VOLUNTEER. 

with  flowers  and  powdered,  but  being  in  the  country, 
and  because  I  liked  not  the  fashion,  she  seldom  wore 
it  so.  Her  eyes  —  I  have  never  known  their  color ; 
sometimes  they  were  gray,  with  the  shadow  of  their 
black  lashes  in  them,  and  sometimes,  they  were  blue  as 
an  August  sky,  but  always,  to  me,  the  loveliest  eyes  in 
all  the  world.  On  that  day  she  wore  a  soft  gray  frock 
with  a  snowy  kerchief  folded  upon  her  bosom,  and  over 
her  curls  was  tied  a  scarlet  hood.  She  sat  there 
dreaming,  her  eyes  upon  the  sea,  and  knew  not  that 
I  watched  her  until  I,  stirring,  set  a  pebble  rolling  and 
Laddie  heard  it  and  sprang  up,  running  to  me  with 
short  barks  of  joy,  for  the  creature  loved  me,  and  I 
him  —  for  her  sake.  At  the  sound  of  his  glad  greeting, 
which  she  knew  was  meant  for  me,  Joyce  turned  quickly, 
and  her  eyes  shone  blue,  as  I  have  seen  a  wildwood 
violet  when  it  is  wet  with  dew.  The  look  she  gave 
me  sending  all  my  anger  and  wounded  pride  from  my 
heart,  I  came  down  the  cliff  to  her  side,  and,  we  being 
alone  with  only  th'e  wide  sea  below  and  the  sky  above, 
I  caught  her  in  my  arms  and  kissed  her,  and  she  clung 
to  me  with  more  than  her  wonted  tenderness.  Holding 
her  so,  I  told  her  what  she  knew  already,  that  I  was 
denied  admittance  at  her  father's  house  and  of  his 
letter;  her  silence  for  the  first  time  warning  me  that 
she  was  in  doubt  and  trouble.  She  drew  back  from  my 
embrace  and  looked  wistfully  into  my  eyes,  her  own 
grave  and  perplexed. 

"John,"  she  began  slowly,  this  new  gravity  sitting 
strangely  upon  her,  "  what  is  it  that  you  have  done  ? 
Surely,  the  King  of  England  is  your  king  as  well  as 
mine,  and  you  will  not  be  disloyal." 

"  Why  should  we  speak  of  it,  Joyce  ?  "  I  exclaimed  ; 
"  the  king  cannot  come  between  you  and  me.  Truly, 
if  we  love  each  other  that  is  all  in  all  !  " 


JOYCE.  29 

"  Nay,"  she  said,  "  I  love  you,  but  my  love  should  be  a 
loyal  man  and  true." 

Now  this  speech  of  hers  was  a  sharp  sting  to  me,  and 
the  pride  that  was  in  my  blood  was  stirred. 

"  I  did  not  think  to  hear  such  words  from  you,  Joyce," 
I  said  with  quick  reproach. 

"  Nor  did  I  think  that  you  would  be  unfaithful  to  your 
king,"  she  cried. 

"  Nor  am  I,"  I  answered  her ;  "  but  the  king  or  the 
king's  Parliament — and  men  say  both  —  is  cruelly  un 
just  to  the  colonists,  and  cannot  honest  men,  free  English 
men,  protest  without  meriting  the  name  of  traitors?" 

"And  wherefore?"  she  said  hotly;  "is  tea  so  great  a 
thing?" 

Then  I  laughed,  for  truly  it  was  like  the  wilful  little 
maid  to  reason  so ;  but  my  laugh  fretted  her,  and  she 
turned  her  face  away. 

"  It  is  not  the  threepence  duty  on  tea,  dear  heart,"  I 
argued;  "who  cares  for  that?  It  is  the  principle  in 
volved  ;  we  are  not  represented,  we  cannot  be  legally 
taxed.  We  colonists  contend  but  for  our  rights.  I 
know  Sir  Anthony  calls  it  disloyalty,  but  such  disloyalty 
has  saved  the  state  of  old.  Do  you  believe  that  I 
or  my  father  would  do  that  which  is  contrary  to  our 
consciences?  " 

She  stood  thinking,  her  rosy  lips  pressed  together  as 
if  she  longed  to  speak  but  would  not,  and  I  watched 
her,  loving  her,  but  with  a  man's  slow  understanding  of 
her  mood. 

"  But  you  approve  of  these  meetings  to  oppose  Mr. 
Gage?"  she  said;  "you  are  preparing  to  resist  the 
decrees  of  the  government?" 

"  Unhappily  we  must,"  I  declared  sadly,  "  there  being 
no  alternative ;  but  what  is  that  to  you  and  me,  Joyce?" 


3O  A    YANKEE    VOLUNTEER. 

Then  she  raised  her  head  proudly  with  a  queenly  air, 
as  I  had  seen  her  in  rare  moments  of  anger. 

"I  am  a  Talbot,"  she  said  gravely,  "and  no  Talbot 
ever  loved  a  traitor." 

This  was  more  than  I  could  bear. 

"  I  cannot  take  that  name,  even  from  you,  Joyce,"  I 
cried  in  heat.  "  I  am  no  traitor,  but  a  freeborn  American, 
and  I  can  be  nothing  more  than  I  am,  even  for  you, 
whom  I  love  better  than  my  life." 

"  Your  great-grandfather  saw  the  head  of  King  Charles 
fall  on  the  block,"  she  said  bitterly;  "  perhaps  you  would 
see  King  George's  there  also." 

"  Many  wiser  have  fallen  there  ! "  I  declared  more 
hastily  than  advisedly. 

"  Ah,  sir  !  "  she  said  with  a  flash  of  wrath,  "  you  are  a 
traitor." 

The  blood  burned  in  my  face,  and  my  temper,  as  quick 
as  hers,  betrayed  me. 

"  Nay,"  I  said,  "  no  traitor,  but  I  see  that  you  would 
be  quit  with  me." 

"  I  will  not  wed  a  rebel,"  she  replied,  pressing  her 
hands  together  but  holding  her  head  high. 

"Then,  Miss  Talbot,"  I  said  haughtily,  "you  are  of 
like  mind  with  your  father,  and  will  no  more  of  me." 

She  stood  regarding  me  with  a  strange  look  which  I 
thought  was  cold ;  for  a  moment  she  did  not  speak,  and 
then, — 

"When  you  are  a  loyal  subject  of  your  king,"  she 
said  with  pride,  "you  may  seek  Joyce  Talbot.  He 
who  is  disloyal  to  his  king  may  well  be  disloyal  to  his 
love." 

Her  words  cut  like  a  knife,  and  with  a  burning  face  I  bent 
my  head  gravely  before  her,  as  before  a  queen,  and  turned 
away ;  yet  I  had  taken  but  few  steps  before  my  love  and 


JOYCE.  31 

my  regret  overwhelmed  me,  and  turning,  I  caught  her 
hand  and  kissed  it. 

"  Farewell,  dear  heart,"  I  whispered  low,  "  and  may 
God  bless  you." 

But  she,  averting  her  face,  spoke  not  a  word,  and  only 
Laddie  leaped  upon  my  knee.  Putting  away  the  dog,  I 
left  her  and  went  along  the  footpath  to  the  village  with 
a  great  lump  in  my  throat  and  my  heart  like  lead.  Thus 
it  is  that  lovers  quarrel,  loving  still. 


CHAPTER   IV. 

MY    FATHER. 

ALTHOUGH  the  day  was  bright  when  I  rode  back  to 
the  ferry,  and  birds  were  twittering  in  the  hedgerows, 
the  world  had  never  worn  so  dark  an  aspect  to  my  eyes. 
In  all  our  childhood,  spent  together,  and  our  youth, 
Joyce  and  I  had  never  quarrelled,  and  the  sudden  break 
brought  all  the  sharper  pain.  Sir  Anthony's  letter, 
which  I  had  taken  for  the  outburst  of  a  peevish  and 
violent  old  man,  was  now  colored  with  a  deeper  mean 
ing.  Mayhap  he  knew  his  daughter's  heart  better  than 
I.  Then,  too,  that  devil  jealousy  awoke  to  fret  my 
spirit ;  there  was  a  certain  subaltern  in  the  king's  army, 
Francis  Beresford,  who  I  knew  looked  on  Joyce  with 
open  devotion,  and  the  thought  arose  that  it  might  be 
that  she  regarded  him  with  new-born  favor.  So,  having 
the  wound  already,  I  found  a  sure  way  to  probe  it  and 
keep  it  bleeding  fresh.  Truly,  we  are  our  own  tor 
mentors  ;  no  man  need  have  a  greater  than  he  can  find 
in  his  own  heart.  Wheresoever  I  turned  my  eyes,  her 
face  rose  before  me,  like  a  vision,  with  that  new  strange 
look  upon  it,  and  bitterly  as  she  had  wounded  my  pride 
I  loved  her  at  that  moment  more  than  ever ;  but  I  set 
my  teeth  and  rode  on,  never  looking  back,  though*  I  had 
left  my  happiness  behind  me,  as  it  seemed,  forever.  I 
knew  my  duty  now;  sternly  it  rose  before  me,  grim- 
visaged  and  unrelenting.  Not  even  for  her  sake  could 
I  deny  my  own  convictions  or  violate  the  dictates  of  my 
conscience.  But  a  little  while  before,  war  had  seemed 


MY  FATHER. 


33 


a  hard  necessity,  but  now  the  commonwealth  might  call 
me,  claim  me  as  its  own.  The  tender  tie  that  had 
bound  me  with  golden  fetters  was  rudely  severed,  and 
the  soldier's  life  was  a  refuge  and  a  solace.  The  old 
familiar  surroundings  henceforth  would  be  haunted  with 
only  the  phantom  of  my  love. 

Dreaming  thus  sorrowfully,  I  rode  homeward,  and 
Booked  with  strange  eyes  upon  the  well-known  scene. 
Unconsciously  I  checked  my  horse  on  the  crest  of  the 
little  hill,  above  the  ferry,  that  looked  down  upon  the 
town.  Salem  lay  before  me  ;  its  harbor,  a  half-moon  in 
shape,  close  crowded  with  ships  until  their  naked  masts, 
thick  clustered,  seemed  a  floating  forest,  and  above  the 
Custom  House  proudly  waved  the  British  flag.  The  gray 
roofs  and  shingled  gables  of  the  houses,  sober  as  Puritans 
in  Sunday  garb,  seemed  rather  to  resist  the  sunlight  than 
to  bask  in  it,  as  if  the  lesson,  stern  and  bitter,  learned 
long  ago,  was  corroding  any  new-born  happiness  or  cheer, 
while  over  yonder  loomed,  grim  and  threatening,  Gallows 
Hill,  where  they  hung  the  witches.  Yet  was  there  ever  a 
sweet  and  homely  aspect  to  the  town  of  Salem,  —  which 
is  peace,  —  and  we  who  knew  it  best,  loved  it  most 
deeply,  forgiving  it  its  sins  past,  present,  and  to  come. 
Less  bleak  than  Marblehead,  lying  low  and  sheltered, 
with  the  soft  tints  of  gray  and  green  in  the  surrounding 
moorlands,  the  town  looked  out  upon  the  waters  of 
Massachusetts  Bay,  and  landward  lay  the  forest,  guard 
ing  the  settlement  with  outstretched  arms  of  birch  and 
hemlock  and  spruce ;  and  here,  with  blood  and  fire, 
raged  once  the  Indian  wars.  Because  my  heart  was 
sad,  I  fell  into  this  revery,  and  remained  there  long, 
looking  down  upon  my  home,  yet  dreading  to  face  the 
familiar  spot  and  see  the  well-known  streets  that  I 
would  walk  henceforth  with  a  changed  future  stretching 

3 


34  A    YANKEE    VOLUNTEER. 

out  before  me  with  no  Joyce  in  it.  After  a  space  my 
horse,  weary  of  standing,  started  upon  his  way,  as  if  he 
knew  and  pitied  his  master's  weakness.  He  brought 
me  to  the  ferry,  and,  after  we  had  crossed  it,  went  on  to 
the  gate  on  Essex  Street  and  there  whinnied,  as  he  did 
always  when  he  came  home.  In  the  garden  Aunt  Dor 
cas  was  trimming  her  flowers,  and  glanced  up  as  I  dis 
mounted,  her  face  full  of  timid  sympathy.  Knowing  of 
the  quarrel  with  Sir  Anthony,  she  divined  the  truth,  or 
part  of  it,  and  was  full  of  tenderness.  No  lover  of  flesh 
and  blood  had  ever  wooed  this  dear  old  gentlewoman, 
and  she  had  still  youth's  unspoiled  illusions.  I  believe 
the  vision  of  a  ghostly  lover  was  laid  away  on  the  top 
shelf  of  her  heart  much  as  she  would  fold  a  kerchief, 
with  a  sprig  of  lavender  between  it,  in  her  bureau 
drawer.  She  looked  at  me  with  warm  affection  in  her 
tender,  short-sighted  eyes,  and  paused  in  her  work>  an 
aster  hanging  half  clipped  between  her  scissors. 

"  Have  you  seen  our  Joyce?  "  she  asked  timidly. 

"  I  have  seen  Miss  Talbot,"  I  answered  gravely ;  and 
she,  reading  it  all  in  my  face,  said  no  more,  but  bent 
over  her  flowers  and  let  me  pass,  knowing  too  well  that 
words  are  but  poor  consolation. 

I  strode  on  into  the  house,  and  sought  my  father. 
All  my  life  he  had  been  my  greatest  comfort  and  my 
truest  friend.  More  were  we  like  brothers  than  like 
father  and  son.  My  mother's  death  was  a  cruel  be 
reavement,  and  he  centered  all  his  love  upon  her  child. 
We  Aliens  came  of  faithful  blood,  strong  and  steadfast 
in  our  attachments,  unswerving  to  the  end.  I  found 
him  in  his  study,  with  some  papers  lying  open  before 
him,  and  anxiety  in  his  grave  aspect ;  but  being  selfish, 
as  we  are  in  trouble,  I  told  him  all  my  grief,  receiving 
his  sympathy  and  counsel,  before  I  heard  his  trials.  It 


MY  FATHER.  35 

was  less  of  his  own  perplexity  than  of  the  grave  perils 
of  the  commonwealth  that  he  spoke  at  length.  He  was 
a  man  who  loved  peace,  but  in  a  righteous  cause  would 
draw  his  sword,  never  to  sheathe  it  until  justice  was 
vindicated.  He  referred  sadly  to  this  breach  between 
my  love  and  me  as  only  one  inevitable  consequence  of 
the  approaching  struggle.  Even  then,  I  think  that  he 
grasped  the  magnitude  of  the  impending  revolution, 
though  others,  like  myself,  were  blind. 

"Brother  will  rise  against  brother,  and  father  be 
separated  from  son,"  he  remarked  mournfully.  "The 
sword  will  be  sent  amongst  us,  and  yet  do  men  rush 
gladly  forward  to  war  as  to  a  festival.  God  knows  how 
these  colonies  may  survive  the  conflict,  but  He  will 
defend  the  right." 

Then  he  went  on  to  speak  more  fully  of  the  Congress 
at  Philadelphia,  whither  we  were  both  going  in  two  days 
at  farthest,  for  it  was  a  long  and  tedious  journey  and  the 
roads  were  bad.  My  father  had  been  chosen  to  go 
to  this  assembly  by  the  good  people  of  Salem,  and  he 
was  greatly  troubled  thereat,  not  from  lack  of  courage 
or  good-will,  but  even  because  a  wise  man  sees  farther 
and  grieves  more  over  the  consequences  that  will  be 
than  a  shallow  pate  who  has  only  bravado.  As  yet  the 
Tories  only  fumed  against  the  meeting  as  seditious. 
The  best  of  them  was  not  keen  enough  to  see  how 
deeply  a  people  must  be  stirred  to  take  such  measures, 
for  Englishmen  are  slow  to  move,  and  have  no  natural 
love  for  running  contrary  to  authority.  It  is  that  slug 
gish  quality  in  our  blood  which  makes  us,  as  a  nation, 
law-abiding  and  tedious,  wherein  we  differ  from  the 
French  ;  but  in  those  days  the  French,  too,  were  stirred 
with  the  coming  of  troublous  times.  The  old  knave, 
King  Louis  XV.,  was  dead  in  May,  and  his  poor  grand- 


36  A    YANKEE    VOLUNTEER. 

son  Louis  XVI.  was  new  then  on  the  throne,  and  knew 
not  that  he  walked  upon  the  edge  of  a  great  precipice 
slippery  with  the  favor  of  a  fickle  people  and  the  gaudy 
splendors  of  a  court  rotten  to  the  core  and  putrid  with 
vile  immorality  and  oppression  of  the  poor.  Times 
were  changing  the  world  over,  and  King  George  III. 
chose  that  season  to  be  blind,  and  to  close  his  ears  to 
the  eloquence  of  Chatham  and  to  the  just  petitions  of 
his  colonists.  All  the  solid  men  in  old  England,  too, 
pleaded  in  vain.  A  foolish  king  and  his  more  foolish 
ministers  were  the  instruments  of  Providence  to  set  a 
people  free. 

It  was  well  for  me  in  those  hours  that  my  hands  were 
full ;  and  though  I  could  not  drive  Joyce  from  my  thoughts 
waking  or  sleeping,  yet  I  had  work  to  do  and  strove  to 
do  it  well.  My  father,  understanding  my  sorrow  and 
my  needs,  had,  too,  a  way  with  him  that  made  me  feel 
his  sympathy  without  words,  and  he  only  warned  me 
against  quarrelling  with  her  brother,  Richard  Talbot,  — 
Dick,  as  we  all  knew  him.  He  was  the  king's  soldier, 
a  wild,  warm-hearted  lad  who  had  a  touch  of  his  sister's 
beauty  and  much  of  his  father's  temper,  so  that  only  in 
avoiding  his  company  could  one  of  another  way  of 
thinking  escape  a  disagreement.  For  her  sake,  and 
the  love  I  bore  her,  I  had  no  wish  to  pick  a  quarrel  with 
Dick,  and  so  I  took  some  pains  to  shun  him  while  I 
stayed  at  Salem,  which  was  not  long.  On  the  second 
day  from  that  on  which  my  love  sent  me  away,  I  and 
my  father  and  one  servant  rode  out  of  the  town  upon 
our  way  to  Philadelphia  to  the  Congress,  which  was  sum 
moned  for  the  fifth  of  September.  Mr.  Adams  and  John 
Hancock  went  also,  from  Massachusetts  Colony,  but  we 
had  so  arranged  that  we  must  journey  nearly  all  the 
way  alone. 


CHAPTER  V. 

I  MEET    EPHRAIM. 

WE  set  out  upon  our  journey  in  the  morning,  and  leav 
ing  Salem  behind  us,  rode  through  Danvers,  where  Mr. 
Gage  lived  in  his  summer  house,  and  passing  out  we 
went  on  our  way  to  Lynn.  Serene  and  lovely  was  the 
aspect  of  the  country,  with  the  beauty  of  the  midsummer 
upon  it.  The  short  turf  on  the  moors  sparkled  with  the 
morning  dew,  and  the  color  of  blossoming  was  deepen 
ing  on  the  heavy  heads  of  the  goldenrod,  which  clustered 
thick  in  the  hollows  of  the  meadows.  Behind  the  up 
lands,  the  deeper  greens,  that  had  robed  the  woods  in  a 
close  mantle,  took  on  a  russet  hue,  and  yonder  the  tip 
of  a  solitary  branch  was  dipped  in  blood  red,  like  the 
finger  of  a  savage.  Here  and  there,  amidst  the  trees, 
showed  the  gray  shingled  roof  and  smoking  chimney  of 
some  farmhouse,  and  when  we  drew  near,  the  farmer 
ploughing  for  the  September  wheat,  stopped  his  plough  in 
the  furrow  to  gaze  at  us,  divining  something  of  the  nature 
of  our  errand ;  not  the  simplest  yeoman  being  ignorant 
of  the  cause  we  had  at  heart.  A  mob  of  peasants,  the 
British  called  us ;  yet  in  these  hardy  sons  of  toil  lay  the 
bone  and  sinew  of  the  colonies,  which  was  to  outlive 
the  great  struggle  coming  on.  Peaceful  was  it  then,  with 
no  sign  or  token  of  the  agitation  which  had  set  the  pulse 
of  the  nation  throbbing,  as  with  fever ;  and  the  pity  of  it 
seemed  that  there  was  any  prospect  that  grim-visaged 
War  would  stalk  along  these  fertile  fields  in  the  tracks 


38  A    YANKEE    VOLUNTEER. 

of  that  great  husbandman  Peace.  My  father  spoke  of 
this  with  tenderness  and  regret,  of  the  cruel  drain  that 
war  would  be  upon  the  resources  of  the  young  country ; 
yet  neither  he  nor  I  saw  any  course  but  one,  in  which 
our  duty  and  our  honor  were  alike  involved.  It  was 
this  singleness  of  purpose,  uniting  the  colonists,  which 
made  that  long  resistance  possible. 

It  was  well  for  me  that  these  thoughts  and  many  like 
them  kept  my  mind  from  dwelling  upon  Joyce  and  the 
loss  of  her ;  yet  so  obstinate  is  love  when  it  is  rooted  in 
the  heart  that  all  through  that  long  journey,  on  so  grave 
an  errand,  her  face  travelled  before  me,  and  I  saw  it 
sometimes  between  me  and  the  ocean  and  again  look 
ing  up  amidst  the  wayside  flowers  which  she  loved. 

We  travelled  on,  and  coming  to  Lynn  before  noon, 
stopped  there  to  bait  our  horses,  for  we  were  to  ride 
the  ten  miles  and  more  to  Boston  and  lie  there  over 
night.  Beyond  Lynn  the  roads  were  heavy  from  the 
recent  rains,  and  the  journey  was  more  slow  and  tedious, 
though  our  horses  made  better  speed  than  those  with 
vehicles,  since  we  met  Mr.  John  Hancock  riding  in  a 
sulky,  and  after  the  greetings  were  exchanged  left  him 
far  behind  us  and  entered  Boston  toward  evening, 
having  spared  our  beasts.  A  strange  sight  it  was,  too, 
the  town  wore  so  desolate  an  aspect.  The  sun  was 
setting  when  we  crossed  in  the  ferry  from  Winniset,  and 
rainbow  tints  were  mirrored  in  the  waters  running  quiet 
through  the  reeds;  the  sharp  cries  of  the  water  fowl 
came  from  the  marshes,  and  away  out  at  sea  the  sails 
showed  scarlet  like  ships  on  fire  in  a  glowing  ocean, 
while  the  harbor  and  the  wharves  were  naked.  When 
we  landed  at  Hudson's  Point,  we  saw  that  grass  had 
started  between  the  cobbles  on  the  streets  beside  the 
warehouses  which  had  been  but  lately  alive  with  the 


f  MEET  EPHRAIM.  39 

trade  of  England  and  the  Indies.  All  men  wore  sober 
faces,  and  beggars  flocked  about  us,  for  the  poor  were 
starving.  The  scarlet  uniforms  and  clash  of  arms  told 
their  own  story ;  the  troops  were  quartered  everywhere, 
contrary  though  it  was  to  the  laws  of  Massachusetts 
Bay  and  the  spirit  of  the  Commonwealth.  The  call  of 
the  bugle  and  the  challenge  of  the  sentry  were  new 
sounds  in  the  time  of  peace. 

The  sullen  aspect  of  the  townsmen  should  have  been 
a  warning  that  this  stiff-necked  people  would  endure 
no  more,  but  a  fatal  blindness  obscured  the  sight  of 
men  in  high  places.  My  father  pointed  out  all  these 
signs  of  the  times,  as  we  rode  forward,  speaking  too  of 
the  empty  houses,  many  shutters  being  up  and  many 
spots  deserted,  although  the  Tories  were  coming  into 
the  city  from  the  outlying  districts,  where  men  looked 
askance  at  those  who  held  for  the  ministry ;  we  colonists 
would  not  yet  say  that  it  was  the  king  who  so  oppressed 
us.  It  was  on  Ann  Street  that  a  ragged  creature,  lean- 
visaged  and  hollow-eyed,  stopped  my  horse  to  beg, 
and  my  father  gave  him  a  handful  of  coins,  and  when 
we  had  passed,  told  me  that  the  man  had  been  employed 
at  the  wharves  and  was  earning  his  livelihood  before 
these  cruel  times ;  he  now  stood,  a  living  example  of 
the  sin  of  the  Port  Bill  and  the  recent  acts  of  Parliament. 

We  did  not  purpose  to  tarry  in  Boston,  but  would 
lodge  that  night  at  Wetherby's  Tavern  at  Menotomy. 
First,  however,  my  father  was  bound  to  attend  a  meeting 
at  the  Old  South  Meeting-house ;  and  as  we  approached 
it,  we  saw  a  crowd  gathered  there  of  people  of  all  con 
ditions  and  of  both  sexes,  but  quiet  and  orderly.  There 
was  a  town  meeting  assembled ;  the  government  had 
issued  an  act  prohibiting  these  assemblages  after  the 
first  of  August,  but  the  act  had  been  evaded.  The 


4O  A    YANKEE    VOLUNTEER. 

meetings  were  convoked  before  the  forbidden  period, 
and  kept  alive  indefinitely;  the  people  of  the  colony 
would  not  bow  their  necks  to  the  oppressor's  yoke. 
My  father  drawing  rein  amidst  the  crowd,  I  halted  too, 
and  presently,  after  some  parley  with  the  keeper  of  the 
door,  we  dismounted  and  with  bare  heads  entered  the 
old  meeting-house  that  was  to  be  one  of  the  cradles  of 
the  country's  liberty. 

Within,  the  scene  was  grave  indeed ;  the  long  benches 
were  filled  with  sober  and  dignified  personages,  and  the 
glow  of  sunset,  shining  through  the  windows,  fell  upon 
faces  lined  and  stern  with  the  responsibility  that  op 
pressed  these  men  who  were  to  deliberate  and  fight  for 
a  nation.  Mr.  Samuel  Adams  presided  on  that  day  as 
moderator,  and  knowing  my  father  called  him  to  a  seat 
beside  him,  while  I  found  a  place  near  the  door,  being 
not  unwilling  to  evade  a  tedious  discussion,  if  I  saw  the 
opportunity  to  slip  away,  having  in  those  days  but  small 
relish  for  debate.  Dr.  Warren,  a  man  much  esteemed, 
was  discoursing  on  public  rights  and  public  measures,  and 
his  audience  listened  with  a  grim  and  stolid  patience, 
making  no  sign,  after  the  fashion  of  New  England 
people.  There  is  iron  in  the  blood  of  Massachusetts, 
but  no  fire,  and  it  seemed  impossible  that  these  silent 
men  were  hovering  on  the  borders  of  revolt  against  the 
crown;  yet  so  it  was,  and  thus  was  Governor  Gage 
disarmed  and  baffled.  There  was  here  no  mutiny,  no 
deed  of  violence  that  the  hand  of  the  law  could  grasp, 
but  revolution  was  in  travail,  and  the  hour  of  its  birth 
was  drawing  nigh.  While  Dr.  Warren  was  still  speaking, 
the  sunset  glow  faded  and  the  first  soft  shadows  of  the 
summer  twilight  fell  within  the  building ;  in  the  silence 
his  voice  sounded  with  peculiar  eloquence. 

While  the  discussion  was  yet  in  progress,   I  left  the 


/  MEET  EPHRAIM.  41 

meeting,  not  because  my  heart  failed  to  respond,  but  young 
blood  is  impatient  and  besides  I  was  troubled  in  spirit. 
The  throng  without,  more  patient  than  I,  still  waited,  and 
I  was  even  forced  to  press  my  way  to  reach  my  horse.  I 
had  left  the  animals  in  charge  of  our  servant,  but  when 
I  reached  them,  found  a  strange  man  holding  mine. 
Odd  enough  too  was  this  new  groom  of  the  stirrup,  and 
I  observed  him  as  he  led  the  horse  away  from  the  crowd 
that  I  might  have  the  space  to  mount.  The  stranger 
was  of  uncommon  height,  being  nigh  seven  feet,  and 
with  a  lank  and  lean  exterior,  his  joints  large,  and  his 
feet  giving  him  an  assured  understanding.  His  head 
was  long  and  thickly  covered  with  red  hair,  and  his  high 
cheek-bones  and  long  jaw  were  ugly  enough  without 
the  hollows  in  which  his  small  blue  eyes  were  set.  His 
clothing,  which  had  never  fitted  him,  was  worn  and 
faded  at  the  seams,  the  waist  of  his  long-tailed  green 
coat  was  midway  up  his  back,  and  his  small  clothes 
were  far  too  small ;  his  high  boots  were  wrinkled,  and 
had  slipped  down  at  the  ankles,  revealing  the  leanest 
pair  of  legs  I  had  ever  seen.  Yet  was  there  something 
in  this  strange  figure  that  arrested  the  smile  upon  my 
lips  and  awoke  my  interest.  He  held  my  horse,  and  I 
mounted  in  silence,  being  disposed  to  let  him  speak  his 
mind,  for  I  saw  that  he  had  a  purpose  in  the  service  that 
he  rendered  me. 

"  You  are  Judge  Allen's  son,"  he  said  in  a  drawling 
nasal  voice,  "  I  know  ye.  I  come  from  Salem  —  or 
thereabouts." 

I  told  him  gravely  that  his  face  was  unfamiliar  to  me. 

"  Likely  it  be,"  he  rejoined  calmly,  stepping  back  from 
my  horse  and  standing  with  his  hands  thnist  deep  into 
his  pockets,  his  little  blue  eyes  twinkling, "  I  'm  not  often 
at  town  meetings  there.  When  this  talk  is  run  out, 


42  A    YANKEE    VOLUNTEER. 

though,  and  we  settle  down  to  fighting,  I  allow  I  '11  be 
there.  I  stopped  around  a  bit  to  tell  you  that  I  'd  join 
your  company." 

The  thought  was  new  to  me,  and  I  started.  He,  see 
ing  the  change  come  over  my  face,  smiled  in  a  grim 
way. 

"  Had  n't  thought  of  it,  had  ye  ?  "  he  said  slowly ;  "  but 
you  have  the  make  of  a  soldier,  and  I  admire  to  see  it." 

"  You  would  be  of  my  company,  then?  "  I  asked,  smil 
ing,  for  the  suggestion  amused  me. 

"  That 's  what  I  spoke  for,"  he  replied  briefly ;  "  when 
you  need  me,  remember  that  my  name  is  Ephraim  Minot. 
I  fought  the  Indians  with  Colonel  Washington  of  Vir 
ginia,  and  I  can  shoot  somewhere  nigh  the  mark,  when  I 
choose." 

With  these  words  Ephraim  made  me  a  strange  salute, 
and,  turning  away,  mingled  with  the  throng  and  was  lost. 
So  it  was  that  I  met  the  first  private  of  my  regiment. 


CHAPTER  VI. 

WE  JOURNEY  ON. 

WE  had  purposed  a  short  stay  in  Boston,  but  the  aspect 
of  the  town,  and  the  tidings  that  my  father  gathered 
from  the  chief  men  there,  were  such  that  we  decided  to 
push  on  at  once  upon  our  journey.  It  stung  the  pride 
of  a  free-born  American  to  see  the  city  so  cast  down  and 
hear  the  boasts  of  the  authorities  and  the  Tories,  who 
were  worse,  a  thousand  times,  than  any  of  the  British. 
A  force  of  infantry  and  artillery  was  quartered  on  the 
Common,  and  Boston  Neck  swarmed  with  the  redcoats. 
An  honest  man  could  scarcely  walk  at  midday  free  of 
insult  and  contumely,  and  the  troopers  had  a  ribald  jest 
at  every  sober-faced  citizen,  knowing  such  to  be  for  the 
colony.  While  there,  I  learned  that  Dick  Talbot  had 
been  ordered  up  from  Marblehead  to  join  his  regiment, 
and  would  be  stationed  in  Boston.  His  name,  so  promi 
nent  in  the  Ministerial  cause,  reminded  me  of  the  breach 
that  widened  day  by  day  between  us,  and  I  seemed  to 
see  Joyce  standing  far  off  with  that  proud  defiance  on 
her  young  face  which  it  had  worn  when  we  parted. 
My  love,  mine  against  the  world  by  virtue  of  the  love  I 
bore  her,  yet  mine  no  more.  I  remember  how  bitterly 
I  looked  upon  the  redcoats  as  we  rode  past  them,  along 
Boston  Neck,  to  cross  the  Mystic  to  Cambridge.  Here, 
then,  were  the  living  symbols  of  the  oppressor's  cause, 
here  were  the  men  that  we  colonists  must  fight  and 
conquer  or  lose  our  liberty.  Both  my  father  and  I 


44  A    YANKEE    VOLUNTEER. 

experienced  a  sense  of  relief  when  we  had  left  the 
town  behind  us  and  rode  out  in  the  open  country,  where 
there  was  no  harsher  sound  in  our  ears  than  the  scythe. 
We  took  the  road  to  Springfield,  and  made  such  good 
progress  that  we  rode  through  the  Connecticut  valley 
toward  Hartford  in  good  season  and  without  mishap. 
Our  road  lay  through  the  broad  and  level  meadows  that 
were  not  rugged,  as  with  us,  but  fine  pasture-land,  slop 
ing  down  from  either  side  to  the  noble  river  that  flowed 
through  them.  The  valley  is  shut  in  by  hills  that  at 
that  season  were  beautiful  with  all  the  foliage  of  mid 
summer,  and  showed  far  less  of  the  early  touches  of 
autumn  than  the  woods  at  home.  The  bluejay  and 
the  bobolink  were  in  the  fields,  and  from  the  river  we 
heard  the  call  of  the  kingfisher.  It  was  a  spot  to 
bring  peace  to  a  troubled  breast,  and  here  we  forgot  for 
a  brief  space  the  country's  trouble  and  our  own. 

Yet  in  these  tranquil  solitudes  came  tidings  of  the  evil 
times  to  come.  It  was  here  that  we  were  joined  by  an 
acquaintance,  who  rode  with  us  to  Hartford  and  told  us 
that  trouble  was  brewing  in  the  valley  of  the  Mohawk. 
Sir  William  Johnson,  his  Majesty's  agent  for  Indian 
affairs,  had  died  on  the  eleventh  of  July ;  but  it  seemed 
that  before  his  death  he  had  received  orders  to  enlist  the 
Indians  against  the  colonists,  and  his  son  Sir  John  and 
his  son-in-law  Sir  Guy  Johnson  were  prepared  to  obey 
the  commands  that  had  so  greatly  troubled  Sir  William. 
Now,  this  family  had  much  influence  with  the  Six  Nations, 
and  the  Mohawk  sachem,  Brant,  was  their  ally,  so  that  it 
was  not  difficult  to  see  how  grave  would  be  the  conse 
quences.  Such  were  the  measures  that  our  king  was 
taking  against  his  people,  who  had  sinned  only  in  peti 
tions  for  justice  and  in  resistance  of  unjust  taxation. 

From  Hartford  we  rode  to  Yale,  and  thence  through 


WE  JOURNEY  ON.  45 

Harrington  over  a  bad  road  to  Litchfield,  where  we  lay 
that  night.  From  Litchfield  it  was  a  two  days'  journey 
to  Danbury,  where  we  decided  to  take  the  Fishkill  Road. 
The  next  day  we  set  out  after  noon  in  a  rainstorm  which 
waxed  so  violent  that  after  five  miles  in  the  tempest,  on 
a  muddy  road,  we  stopped  at  a  wayside  tavern  and  were 
forced  to  abide  there  until  morning.  A  homely  place  it 
was,  and  a  cheerful  shelter  from  the  driving  storm,  rustic, 
too,  in  its  simplicity.  The  goodwife  bade  us  welcome 
warmly,  and  ushering  us  into  a  room  where  the  family 
had  gathered,  gave  us  each  a  smoking  bowl  of  broth 
which  was  right  welcome  after  the  chill  rain.  Tea  they 
had  not ;  the  patriots  of  all  classes  denied  themselves 
this  drink.  Long  ago  now,  yet  I  remember  well  the 
cheerful  scene.  The  good  woman  had  her  spinning-wheel 
in  the  chimney-corner,  and  when  we  were  served,  she  set 
it  humming ;  beside  her  a  young  girl,  her  daughter,  had 
her  wool-card,  and  the  goodman  of  the  house  was  mend 
ing  harness.  In  the  corner,  on  a  long  bench,  where 
there  was  much  space  left,  sat  the  eldest  daughter  and 
her  lover,  a  young  farmer  who  had  walked  forty  miles  to 
visit  her  and  bring  her  some  early  apples.  They  sat 
smiling  foolishly,  with  red  cheeks  and  downcast  eyes,  and 
when  they  thought  the  others  were  engaged  in  talk,  he 
pressed  her  hand  ;  but  words  were  few,  though  he  had 
walked  so  far  to  tell  her  that  he  loved  her,  for  love  has  a 
language  without  utterance.  Foolish  as  it  was  and  rustic, 
it  cost  me  a  pang  when  I  saw  how  faithful  was  this  simple 
heart  and  remembered  Joyce. 

From  this  rural  spot  we  went  the  next  day  on  to 
Fishkill  to  cross  the  Hudson ;  despite  the  delay,  we  felt 
that  our  progress  had  been  excellent,  and  now  we  had 
again  the  promise  of  fine  weather.  When  we  reached 
the  village  of  Fishkill,  it  was  full  noontide,  and  we  stopped 


46  A    YANKEE    VOLUNTEER. 

fo  bait  our  horses.  Many  travellers  were  there,  and  we 
rode  the  six  miles  more  to  the  ferry  in  genial  company  ; 
but  the  beauty  of  the  scene  drew  my  attention  from  the 
talk  around  me.  Here  the  noble  river  flows  a  broad 
and  placid  stream,  and  the  meadows  and  the  foothills 
were  beautifully  green.  Newburg  bay  stretched  out 
before  us,  its  placid  tides  gleaming  like  silver  in  the 
sunshine,  and  the  heights  rising  nobly  before  us,  for  we 
stood  there  at  the  gate  of  the  Highlands.  Around  us 
were  orchards  of  ripening  fruit  and  broad  fields,  where 
the  scarlet  tassels  of  the  corn  stirred  gently  in  the 
breeze. 

We  crossed  the  Hudson  to  Newburg  and  there  dined, 
pressing  on  from  thence  upon  our  journey.  We  were 
no  longer  alone,  having  fallen  in  with  acquaintances  at 
Fishkill  who  were  also  bound  to  Philadelphia;  from 
them  we  gathered  tidings  of  the  increasing  trouble 
through  the  colonies.  Virginia  had  shown  her  sym 
pathy  with  Boston  at  the  assembly  of  the  House  of 
Burgesses,  although  the  governor  Lord  Dunmore  was 
much  esteemed  in  the  province.  In  the  spring  of  the 
year  he  had  abruptly  dissolved  the  House  of  Burgesses 
because  of  a  resolution  protesting  against  the  closing  of 
the  Port  of  Boston  and  other  acts  of  Parliament,  but  the 
Province  of  Virginia  was  still  active  in  expressions  of 
sympathy.  We  heard  now,  too,  a  great  deal  of  one  Mr. 
Washington  of  Mount  Vernon,  who  was  with  Braddock 
and  had  won  much  reputation  in  the  wars  with  the 
Indians;  the  same  man  of  whom  Ephraim  Minot  had 
spoken.  We  knew  a  little  of  this  Virginian  already, 
from  the  letters  of  the  Reverend  David  Mosson,  once 
rector  of  Saint  Michael's  Church  at  Marblehead,  and 
who  was,  though  of  different  faith,  a  warm  friend  of  my 
father.  Dr.  Mosson  had  been  called  from  Massachu- 


WE  JOURNEY  ON.  47 

setts  to  Virginia,  and  there  married  Mr.  Washington  to 
a  widow,  Mrs.  Custis  by  name.  Mosson  was  a  warm 
admirer  of  Washington,  and  wrote,  with  enthusiasm,  of 
his  fine  character  and  military  achievements.  It  ap 
peared  that  this  Virginia  hero  was  prominent  in  this 
time  of  trouble,  and  there  was  much  curiosity  to  see  him. 
On  inquiry  we  found  that  he  was  expected  to  appear  at 
the  Congress,  and  men  looked  to  him  as  to  a  leader, 
since  he  was  reputed  brave  and  judicious.  My  father 
was  especially  anxious  to  learn  something  of  the  possible 
leaders  at  this  assembly,  since  his  gravest  fear  was  that 
rash  counsels  would  prevail  and  our  cause  be  jeopardized 
at  its  birth.  From  Massachusetts  there  would  be 
astute  and  noble  counsellors,  and  John  and  Samuel 
Adams  were  of  our  delegation. 

Although  the  weather  continued  propitious,  the  latter 
part  of  our  journey  was  both  tedious  and  uneventful. 
We  tarried  but  one  night  in  New  York,  and  from  there 
went  on  to  Hoboken,  where  we  were  delayed  by  a  pass 
ing  lameness  of  one  of  our  horses.  The  tavern  was 
most  wretched,  and  we  slept  on  straw-filled  ticks  for 
beds ;  we  could  have  proceeded  in  the  stage,  but  could 
not  abide  this  uncomfortable  way  of  travelling.  It  was 
a  six  days'  journey,  and  the  stages  were  Jersey  wagons, 
and  mighty  hard,  for  they  bumped  and  shook  with  every 
jolt ;  the  white  canvas  covers  were  stretched  over  hoops, 
high  in  front  and  rear  and  dipping  in  the  middle,  to 
which  many  a  traveller's  head  bore  witness.  The  floors 
of  these  vehicles  were  covered  with  straw,  and  it  was  sad 
comfort  to  lie  in  it,  nigh  a  week;  the  wheels,  too, 
revolved  in  boxes,  and  must  be  greased  with  tar,  which 
was  kept  in  a  bucket  suspended  beneath  the  wagon, 
and  sometimes  did  smell  as  we  are  told  the  pit  does 
which  awaits  the  sinner.  The  linchpins  often  fell  out  of 


48  A    YANKEE    VOLUNTEER. 

the  wheels  and  let  the  axle  down,  tumbling  the  passen 
gers  out,  like  cherries  out  of  a  basket;  and  when  the 
wagon  stuck  in  the  road,  all  the  male  travellers  must  get 
out  and  push  and  pull  it  through.  These  things  being 
so,  we  waited  for  our  horse  to  mend,  and  it  was  the 
fourth  of  September  before  we  crossed  the  Delaware 
and  entered  Philadelphia.  Coming  into  the  city  at 
evening,  we  found  it  crowded,  and  gathered  but  little 
information,  for  we  were  travel-stained  and  weary.  We 
put  up  at  a  tavern  called  the  London  Coffee  House,  on 
High  and  Front  streets,  and  found  there  many  grave 
and  eminent  gentlemen  who  had  come  upon  the  same 
errand.  Here  we  learned  that  the  Provincial  Assembly 
was  sitting  in  the  State  House,  and  the  Congress  had 
even  accepted  quarters  where  they  could  be  found. 
The  hall  of  the  Honorable  Society  of  Carpenters,  on 
Chestnut  Street  above  Third,  had  been  tendered,  and 
there  would  the  delegates  assemble  in  the  morning. 
That  night,  Colonel  Charles  Lee,  of  his  Majesty's  service, 
came  to  the  coffee-house  and  talked  loudly  of  the  affairs 
of  the  country.  He  was  a  large,  florid  man,  very  ill- 
dressed,  who  always  took  the  lead,  discoursing  upon 
war  and  peace  as  though  he  loved  the  first  and  despised 
the  latter.  There  were  strange  tales  floating  in  the 
public-room  of  his  career  in  Poland  and  Russia;  but 
many  seemed  to  hold  him  in  high  esteem,  and  he 
amused  the  company  by  making  his  dog  sit  up  and 
shake  hands  with  Mr.  Adams. 

"  Both  truculent  and  rash,"  my  father  said  to  me,  as 
we  talked  apart,  "  and  no  safe  guide  for  these  distressed 
provinces  ;  yet  such  aggressive  speakers  sometimes  push 
to  the  helm  and  bring  disaster." 

But  excitement  ran  high  then,  and  men  talked  freely 
of  war,  if  remonstrance  failed,  as  men  will  at  supper  when 


WE  JOURNEY  ON.  49 

the  blood  is  warmed,  and  then  repent  in  the  morning. 
The  timid  counsellor  and  the  waverer  are  ever  bravest 
at  the  table.  So,  in  talk  —  some  grave  and  some 
empty  as  the  cackle  of  a  fowl,  —  the  night  wore  on  and 
the  morning  of  a  new  resolution  dawned. 


CHAPTER  VII. 

THE   FIRST   CONGRESS. 

EARLY  the  next  day,  I  opened  the  shutters  of  my 
window  and  looked  out  upon  the  street ;  the  scene  was 
quiet  and  peaceful,  and  little  suggestive  of  the  dawn  of 
an  auspicious  day.  On  the  corner  of  the  street  a  rosy 
country-maid  was  peddling  milk,  the  custom  of  selling  it 
then  in  Philadelphia,  and  women  and  children  ran 
from  every  quarter  with  pails  and  pitchers  for  the  day's 
supply,  their  voices  sounding  shrill  as  they  chaffered 
over  their  purchases.  It  was  a  homely  scene,  the  first 
stirring  of  the  city  in  the  morning ;  but  in  a  short  while 
there  was  a  gathering  of  another  character,  for  it  had 
been  bruited  about  that  the  delegates  to  the  Congress 
would  meet  at  our  quarters,  and  a  crowd  soon  collected 
at  the  door  of  the  coffee-house. 

As  my  father's  clerk,  I  was  to  be  admitted  to  the  as 
sembly,  and  therefore  attended  him  when  the  delegates 
did  finally  assemble  and  walk  in  solemn  procession  up 
the  street  to  the  Carpenters'  Hall,  which  stood  at  the 
end  of  an  alley  off  Chestnut  Street.  There  was  now  a 
great  throng,  and  even  the  little  boys  stared  gravely, 
while  from  the  windows  many  a  fair  face  looked  down, 
some  in  derision,  being  Tories,  some  with  approval  and 
coquetry,  for  in  the  gravest  moments  a  woman  still  re 
members  the  dimple  in  her  cheek  or  the  beauty  of  her 
slender  wrist.  There  were"]  also  many  Quakers,  who 
looked  on  us  askance,  having  then  no  love  for  the  cause 


THE  FIRST  CONGRESS.  51 

which  seemed  to  them  wild  radicalism.  They  are  not 
fighting  men,  but  rather  men  of  peace ;  yet  afterwards 
some  of  them  did  espouse  our  cause  and  defend  it  right 
zealously.  It  was  not  strange  that  at  the  first  such  men 
should  hold  aloof,  so  great  was  the  abhorrence  of  any 
thing  that  seemed  disloyalty  to  the  king.  The  break 
that  was  to  come,  of  necessity  came  slowly,  since  men 
were  not  yet  ripe  for  the  thought  of  an  absolute  inde 
pendence.  Gazed  at  by  the  throng,  pointed  at  by  some 
and  applauded  by  others,  the  procession  went  calmly 
on,  until  it  came  to  Carpenters'  Alley ;  there  before  us 
was  the  hall,  a  brick  building,  two  stories  high,  with  a 
cupola  upon  the  roof.  In  the  center  was  the  door, 
painted  white,  with  five  stone  steps  leading  up  to  it,  and 
an  arch  of  small-paned  glass  above.  On  either  side  of 
this  door  were  two  square  windows,  and  over  it,  in  the 
second  story,  three  arched  ones  in  a  row.  Coming  to 
this  plain  building,  we  entered  soberly  enough,  and  found 
it  a  small  place,  well  lighted  by  windows  on  all  sides , 
against  the  walls  were  ranged  bare  wood  benches,  and 
at  the  upper  end  was  placed  a  rude  desk  for  the  presid 
ing  officer.  Thus  poorly  situated,  the  delegates  began 
their  business  with  some  heaviness,  all  men  now  realiz 
ing  how  grave  was  the  crisis.  Here  were  met  the  most 
learned  and  able  representatives  of  the  country ;  men 
of  fortune,  of  ability,  learning,  and  acuteness.  The  oc 
casion  was  solemn ;  the  liberties  of  the  provinces  were 
in  the  balance,  and  largely,  if  not  wholly,  dependent  upon 
the  resolutions  of  this  assembly.  Every  man  felt  his 
responsibility,  although  each  expressed  it  in  a  different 
way,  the  sharp  contrast  between  the  members  being  one 
of  the  most  interesting  features  of  this  first  parliament  of 
the  colonies. 

The  opening  day  was  devoted  to  preliminaries  only, 


52  A    YANKEE    VOLUNTEER. 

and  gave  an  opportunity  for  the  delegates  to  meet  each 
other.  The  Adamses  were  both  present,  and  Mr.  Peyton 
Randolph,  whom  we  knew  by  reputation,  and  young 
John  Jay  and  Richard  Henry  Lee,  and  at  last,  too, 
we  saw  Mr.  George  Washington.  He  impressed  me 
strongly;  he  was  a  large  man,  of  a  grave  and  noble 
countenance,  and  with  a  bearing  both  dignified  and  re 
served.  His  appearance  inspired  confidence  and  invited 
friendship,  for  his  blue  eyes  were  kind  and  his  manners 
gentle.  He  was  slow  in  speech  and  movement,  and  did 
not,  like  many  there,  court  public  notice  or  popularity. 

During  the  day  a  rumor  reached  us  that  Boston  had 
been  cannonaded  by  the  British ;  it  proved  false,  but 
for  the  time  called  forth  deep  feeling,  and  drew  the  dele 
gates  together  in  mutual  sympathy.  On  the  morning  of 
September  seventh  the  assembly  was  opened  with  prayer 
by  the  Reverend  Mr.  Duch6  of  Philadelphia,  who  was  se 
lected  on  the  motion  of  Mr.  Samuel  Adams.  The  scene 
was  impressive ;  the  morning  light  streamed  into  the 
little  hall,  and  Mr.  Duche,  in  full  canonicals,  read  the 
morning  service  of  the  Church  of  England.  We  of 
Massachusetts,  sorely  troubled  over  the  rumors  of  the 
cannonade,  listened  with  bowed  heads  to  the  beautiful 
words  of  David,  — 

"  Awake,  and  stand  up  to  judge  my  quarrel ;  avenge 
thou  my  cause,  my  God  and  my  Lord. 

"  Judge  me,  O  Lord  my  God,  according  to  thy  right 
eousness  ;  and  let  them  not  triumph  over  me." 

Truly  the  words  of  the  Psalter  went  to  our  hearts,  and 
we  were  deeply  moved  also  when  Mr.  Duch6  made  an 
eloquent  prayer  for  America,  and  especially  for  the  Prov 
ince  of  Massachusetts  Bay.  The  feeling  of  a  common 
brotherhood  and  a  single  cause  stirred  in  the  bosoms  of 
men  from  many  colonies,  and  a  solemn  silence  fell  upon 


THE  FIRST  CONGRESS.  53 

the  august  body.  Then  arose,  in  the  midst  of  the  as 
sembly,  a  tall  figure  ;  a  raw-boned  man,  coarsely  clad  and 
with  swarthy  features,  his  black  hair  unpowdered,  and 
his  dark  eyes  strangely  brilliant.  He  began  to  speak, 
and  at  the  first  faltered  somewhat,  and  men  asked  who 
he  was.  It  was  Patrick  Henry  of  Virginia,  the  same 
who  had  startled  the  House  of  Burgesses  by  declaring 
that  "  Caesar  had  his  Brutus,  Charles  his  Cromwell ;  and 
George  the  Third  may  profit  by  their  examples."  Elo 
quent  and  noble  was  his  oration,  and  we  listened  with 
hearts  thrilled  with  emotion  to  his  bold  advocacy  of  the 
rights  of  the  colonies ;  hearing  with  admiration  that 
voice  that  in  a  few  short  months  was  to  exclaim  "  An 
appeal  to  arms  and  to  the  God  of  Hosts  is  all  that  is 
left  us !  "  With  noble  impetuosity  he  made  his  plea  for 
the  liberties  of  his  country,  and  when  he  took  his  seat 
he  was  no  more  unrecognized  ;  men  had  heard  the 
greatest  orator  in  America,  and  they  looked  on  him  with 
affection  and  with  pride. 

Fifty-two  days  did  Congress  deliberate,  and  so  wise 
and  so  moderate  were  the  documents  given  to  the 
world  that  even  the  great  statesman  Chatham  com 
mended  the  representatives  of  the  colonies,  although 
lesser  minds  were  ready  to  believe  only  evil  of  men  who 
sought  their  country's  sacred  rights.  An  association  was 
formed  by  which  the  patriots  bound  themselves  to  a 
non-importation,  non-consumption,  and  non-exportation 
agreement.  In  thus  striking  a  blow  at  the  commerce  of 
the  mother  country,  seemed  to  lie  our  greatest  hope  of 
success,  and  the  assembly  also  addressed  a  loyal  petition 
to  his  Majesty,  although  we  had  already  proved  the  fu 
tility  of  such  appeals.  Indeed,  the  rumor  was  current  in 
Philadelphia  that  King  George  hated  America,  and  was 
more  bitter  against  his  colonies  than  were  his  ministers ; 


54  A    YANKEE    VOLUNTEER. 

yet  it  seemed  strange  that  a  monarch  should  look  with 
so  little  favor  on  the  brightest  jewel  in  his  diadem.  So 
careful  and  so  astute  was  the  discussion  of  all  these  sub 
jects  that  Mr.  John  Adams  told  my  father  that  it  re 
minded  him  of  Queen  Elizabeth's  Privy  Council.  Colo 
nel  Washington  won  many  friends,  too,  in  those  days,  for 
his  wisdom  was  well  proven,  and,  though  a  man  of  few 
words  and  slow  in  speech,  he  spoke  always  with  moder 
ation  and  justice,  and  many  a  heart  turned  to  him  then, 
as  to  a  natural  leader.  His  voice  was  always  raised  to 
support  a  just  measure  or  to  condemn  a  rash  project,  and 
through  all  he  never  faltered  in  his  country's  cause.  We 
of  the  Massachusetts  Bay  were  as  warm  in  our  regard  for 
him  as  were  his  fellow  delegates  from  the  Province  of 
Virginia,  although  we  did  not  then  foresee  the  station  to 
which  a  wise  Providence  would  call  him  in  a  few  short 
months.  Not  that  wise  men  were  without  premonitions 
of  the  inevitable  result  of  the  strong  measures  which  had 
been  adopted,  but,  as  it  will  be  ever,  men  predicted 
without  the  thought  of  the  early  fulfilment  of  their  proph 
ecies.  When  the  sword,  that  now  was  by  a  hair  sus 
pended,  fell  swiftly,  the  feeling  was,  on  all  sides,  that  it 
was  sudden  and  all  too  soon  !  Yet  events  were  march 
ing  on,  and  great  were  the  changes  in  those  fifty-two 
days ;  the  young  country  was  growing  apace,  like  a  new 
born  child.  I  remember  my  father's  words  when,  after 
the  adjournment  of  Congress,  we  rode  otot  of  Philadel 
phia  in  the  last  days  of  October. 

"We  must  fight,"  he  said  simply,  after  a  pause  in 
which  we  had  been  looking  at  the  forest  and  the  river 
with  many  thoughts  in  our  minds,  and  not  all  of  them  of 
Nature's  beauty ;  "  the  ministry  will  never  forgive  us  for 
the  truths  we  have  uttered." 

"Ay,  that  may  be,"  I  assented,  not  without  sadness; 


THE  FIRST  CONGRESS.  55 

"but  we  are  but  a  handful  of  undisciplined  people 
against  the  armies  of  the  crown.  Our  prospect  of  success 
seems  small." 

My  father  turned  to  me  with  a  noble  composure  that 
was  a  rebuke  to  my  momentary  faintness  of  heart. 

"  Our  cause  is  righteous,"  he  said  gravely ;  "  the 
issue  is  with  Almighty  God." 

And  this  was  the  spirit  of  the  colonists. 

We  had  already  received  grave  tidings  from  Massachu 
setts.  On  the  first  of  September  Governor  Gage  had 
issued  writs  for  a  general  election  to  be  held  at  Salem, 
but  so  great  was  the  popular  agitation  that  he  counter 
manded  it  by  proclamation.  The  people  of  the  colony, 
disregarding  the  order,  carried  the  election  and  voted 
themselves  a  Provincial  Congress.  John  Hancock  was 
chosen  president,  and  the  assembly  convened  at  Con 
cord,  some  twenty  miles  from  the  great  guns  which  Mr. 
Gage  had  placed  on  Boston  Neck,  and  that  were  at 
once  an  insult  to  the  people  of  Massachusetts  Bay  and 
an  excuse  for  their  determined  action.  The  first  pro 
ceeding  of  the  Congress  was  a  protest  against  the  gover 
nor's  violation  of  the  chartered  rights  of  the  colony  and 
the  menace  to  the  lives  and  possessions  of  the  good 
people  of  Boston. 

We  were  much  delayed  upon  our  homeward  journey, 
and  were  forced  also  to  make  a  detour  to  avoid  Boston, 
now  full  of  Tories  and  crowded  with  the  British  troops, 
which  were  not  tolerated  elsewhere  in  the  colony.  The 
Provincial  Congress  had  sanctioned  the  organization  of 
the  militia,  and  the  countryside  was  arming,  quietly  but 
with  no  less  determination.  Wherever  we  tarried,  even 
for  an  hour,  the  rustics  flocked  about  us  for  tidings  of 
the  great  assembly  at  Philadelphia,  and  my  father  was 
well  nigh  worn  out  explaining  and  exhorting  with  these 


56  A    YANKEE    VOLUNTEER. 

simple  folk,  who  had  no  arms  but  the  pitchfork  and  the 
old  musket  with  which  their  fathers  fought  the  Iroquois 
and  the  Mohawk.  We  were  a  full  month  on  the  road, 
and  entered  Salem  in  November ;  the  first  sight  of  home 
bringing  back  to  me  the  thought  of  that  angry  parting 
and  of  Joyce,  and  my  soul  cried  out  against  the  fate  that 
parted  us. 


CHAPTER   VIII. 

I   AM   A   CAPTAIN   OF   MILITIA. 

STIRRING  times  leave  small  season  for  repining,  and 
I  returned  to  find  enough  of  work  for  one  man's  hands 
to  do.  The  Provincial  Congress  had  appointed  a  Com 
mittee  of  Safety,  which  was  to  superintend  the  organi 
zation  of  the  militia  on  a  war  footing,  and  Ephraim 
Minot's  prophecy  was  soon  to  be  fulfilled.  I  was  called 
upon  at  once  to  recruit  a  regiment  in  Essex  County,  and 
with  a  heavy  heart  responded  to  the  summons.  Not 
that  the  profession  of  arms  was  distasteful  to  me,  but  I 
seemed  to  see  a  chasm  widening  every  day  and  hour 
between  my  love  and  me.  Her  brother  was  with 
the  army  in  Boston,  and  old  Sir  Anthony  would  have 
been  there  also  but  for  his  infirmities,  gout  having  laid 
hold  of  him  with  little  mercy.  I,  on  the  other  hand, 
was  buckling  on  my  sword  to  fight  for  the  Province  of 
Massachusetts  Bay. 

My  company,  soon  fully  formed,  was  something  of  a 
curiosity,  —  for  the  most  part,  rustics,  in  singular  ap 
parel,  yet  expert  marksmen,  for  they  had  lived  much 
with  their  fowling-pieces  in  their  hands  and  they  pos 
sessed  in  a  large  degree  the  one  quality  most  required, 
rugged  determination,  and  were  therefore  willing  pupils 
in  the  school  of  war.  Myself  a  novice,  it  was  no  light 
task  to  organize  these  yeomen  and  train  them  to  disci 
pline.  My  father,  a  man  of  peace,  could  aid  me  but 


58  A    YANKEE    VOLUNTEER. 

little  with  his  counsels,  and  many  a  weary  hour  of  prac 
tice  made  me  but  feel  the  greater  blunderer.  We  used 
to  drill  upon  the  moors  beyond  Gallows  Hill,  and  the 
snow  was  trampled  down  in  a  square  by  our  manoeuvers, 
yet  my  soldiers  had  a  hopeless  disregard  for  my  author 
ity,  and  but  strange  conceptions  of  military  tactics.  In 
my  despair  came  at  last  a  helper.  It  was  one  wintry 
evening,  in  the  first  part  of  December,  and  darkness 
had  set  in  at  five  o'clock.  My  soldiers  escorted  me 
home,  and  my  father  bade  them  enter  the  great  dining- 
room,  now  little  used,  but  once  the  scene  of  gay  festivi 
ties.  It  was  a  part  of  the  old  house.  Captain  Miles 
Standish  had  dined  here,  and  here  Cotton  Mather 
came  one  day  to  strive  with  and  persuade  my  grand 
father,  old  Judge  Allen,  to  condemn  to  burning  a  Salem 
witch.  It  was  a  long,  low  room,  with  small  windows, 
barred  once  against  an  Indian  foray,  when  this  was  the 
only  room  of  the  log  house  ;  the  great  chimney  filled  all 
the  end  of  it,  and  there  was  only  one  little  door  oppo 
site,  and  one,  yet  smaller,  opening  into  the  kitchen. 
Over  the  main  entrance  hung  the  breastplate  and  steel 
bonnet  of  my  great-granduncle,  Josiah  Allen,  who  marched 
with  Standish  into  the  wilderness,  and  was  at  last 
scalped  by  an  Iroquois,  when  he  was  walking  unarmed 
but  a  short  distance  from  his  home :  thus  does  fate  find 
us  unprepared. 

My  father  and  Aunt  Dorcas  had  set  out  a  feast  for 
my  rustics,  and  they  partook  of  it  with  appetites  made 
keen  by  their  sharp  exercise.  The  scene  was  strange 
enough  :  these  honest  yeomen,  in  their  homespun  clothing, 
standing  about  the  table  and  proving  themselves  valiant 
trenchermen,  while  at  the  head  was  my  father,  enter 
taining  them  with  grave  courtesy  and  that  kindness 
which  sprung  from  his  large  heart,  for  never  saw  I  yet 


I  AM  A    CAPTAIN  OF  MILITIA.  59 

a  lack  of  courtesy  without  a  want  of  heart.  Suddenly 
the  door  at  the  farther  end  opened  and  a  tall  figure 
entered.  The  hum  of  talk  ceased  for  the  moment, 
while  we  all  looked  at  the  gaunt  stranger,  in  his  high 
boots  and  shabby  small  clothes,  his  long  green  coat 
outlined  on  the  seams  with  a  light  powder  of  dry  snow. 
His  red  hair  and  short-waisted  coat  awoke  my  dor 
mant  recollection,  and  I  responded  gravely  to  his  formal 
salutation. 

"So  you  have  come  at  last,  Mr.  Minot?"  I  said 
quietly,  as  if  my  memory  had  never  played  me  the 
trick  of  allowing  the  thought  of  him  to  escape. 

"Just  came  back  from  Boston,"  Ephraim  replied, 
"  and  stepped  over  to  enlist." 

"  Father,"  I  said  gravely,  "  this  is  Mr.  Ephraim 
Minot,  of  Essex  County,  who  fought  with  General  Brad- 
dock  and  with  Mr.  Washington  against  the  Indians." 

Every  eye  turned  curiously  to  follow  the  strange 
figure  in  the  short-waisted  coat,  as  he  walked  up  and 
shook  my  father's  hand. 

"  Glad  to  see  you,  judge,"  he  said  with  great  com 
posure  ;  "  you  were  with  the  Assembly  that  refused  to 
transact  business  while  the  town  of  Boston  was  in  the 
hands  of  soldiers ;  you  had  the  sympathy  of  the  country 
folks,  sir,  and  now  I  'm  going  to  fight  beside  your  son 
here." 

"  The  evil  day  has  not  yet  actually  dawned  when  we 
must  draw  the  sword  against  the  mother  country,  Mr. 
Minot,"  replied  my  father,  "  but  I  thank  you  for  your 
approval,  and  I  am  glad  to  see  you  here  to-night." 

"  I  always  heard  say,"  struck  in  one  of  my  militiamen, 
abruptly,  "  that  the  folks  with  Braddock  ran  away." 

Ephraim  turned  deliberately,  and  eyed  the  speaker 
with  quiet  scorn.  Then  he  walked  up  to  the  rustic 


60  A    YANKEE    VOLUNTEER. 

and  stood  facing  him,  his  hands,  as  usual,  thrust  into 
his  pockets  and  his  elbows  squared. 

"  I  was  looking  for  the  wart  on  your  nose,"  he  re 
marked  suddenly,  "  and  I  be  darned  if  it  ain't  there  ! 
You  're  Jacob  Trueman,  and  you  were  with  us  on  that 
day,  I  remember  it  well !  To  be  sure,  gentlemen,  this 
is  my  old  friend  Jacob.  On  the  day  of  the  great  fight, 
when  the  first  naked  devil  began  to  whoop  and  yell, 
Jacob  disappeared,  and  when  we  found  him,  after  it  was 
over,  he  had  no  wound  on  the  front  of  him,  nor  on  the 
back,  for  that  matter;  but  an  arrow  was  stuck  clean 
through  the  tails  of  his  coat,  —  hit  him  slanting  as 
he  ran." 

A  shout  of  laughter  rose  at  the  expense  of  the 
hapless  Trueman,  who  stood  there  with  a  burning  face ; 
but  Ephraim  never  moved  a  muscle,  and  his  small 
blue  eyes  were  dull  and  pale. 

From  that  hour  his  ascendency  in  the  little  company 
was  assured.  The  men,  with  the  exception  of  Trueman, 
regarded  him  as  a  hero  ;  and,  to  my  amazement,  I  found 
him  an  excellent  drill- master.  He  was  more  in  touch 
with  his  fellow  soldiers  than  ever  I  had  been,  and  could 
enlist  their  sympathy  and  hold  their  attention  when  I 
was  but  a  dull  and  awkward  teacher.  In  that  strange 
coat,  with  an  old  black  beaver,  looped  up  in  front  and 
resting  on  the  back  of  his  red  head,  he  would  drill  and 
train  the  little  corps  with  untiring  zeal,  and  a  quick  eye 
to  each  man's  ability.  I  watched  him,  day  by  day,  with 
an  undiminished  interest,  for  here  was  a  natural  military 
genius  in  a  strange  disguise.  He  had  formed  an  attach 
ment  too  for  me,  and  was  destined  later  to  show  a 
dogged  faithfulness  in  his  devotion.  So  it  was  that  a 
lieutenant  was  furnished  me  without  an  effort  on  my 
part,  and  in  a  few  weeks  I  had  reason  to  regard  my  re- 


/  AM  A   CAPTAIN  OF  MILITIA.  6 1 

emits  with  complaisance,  although  their  appearance  was 
still  odd  enough  in  their  motley  garments,  and  with  their 
old  muskets  of  unequal  size  and  age.  I  had  the  conso 
lation  that  other  companies  were  no  better  off;  it  was 
not  until  the  next  year  that  we  had  uniformed  militia  at 
Salem.  Then  there  arose  one  marvellous  fine  com 
pany  clad  in  short  green  gold-trimmed  coats,  and  wear 
ing  black  gaiters,  and  having  ruffles  about  their  wrists, 
their  caps  of  black  beaver  with  a  white  ostrich  feather 
in  each.  But  these  gay  gentlemen  remained  not  long 
organized.  Mayhap  their  clothes  were  too  fine.  I  will 
make  no  comment  on  the  white  feather,  though  it  caused 
much  merriment ;  yet  they  were  brave  fellows,  for  all 
that,  and  commanded  by  one  Captain  Sprague.  But 
although  we  had  no  such  finery,  few  could  equal  my 
men  in  drill,  and  none  excel  them  in  marksmanship. 
Ephraim,  being  a  sharpshooter,  kept  them  at  target 
practice,  though  they  stood  in  little  need  thereof. 

War  was  my  business,  but  did  ever  Love  neglect  his 
chosen  victim?  I  found  occupation,  but  never  forgetful- 
ness.  Every  day  my  eyes  turned  to  the  Marblehead 
ferry,  yet  my  stubborn  pride  forbade  a  journey  thither. 
I  knew  from  the  talk  of  my  aunt  that  the  Talbots  were 
yet  there,  all  save  Dick.  Sir  Anthony  was  shut  up  a 
prisoner  with  gout,  and  at  such  seasons  he  was  a  terror 
to  the  household.  Through  the  winter's  dreariest 
months  I  fought  my  passion,  though  making  no  effort 
to  force  my  heart  from  dwelling  on  what  I  chose  to  call 
the  memory  of  my  love ;  and  the  face  of  Joyce  smiled 
upon  me  in  my  dreams.  It  may  be  that  I  would  have 
sooner  relented  if  it  had  not  been  for  rumors  that  the 
good  folk  at  Marblehead  were  frequently  offended  by 
the  presence  of  an  officer  of  his  Majesty's  service ;  not 
Dick,  but  Mr.  Beresford,  who  gossip  said  was  like  to 


62  A    YANKEE    VOLUNTEER. 

wed  with  Joyce  Talbot.  In  my  heart  I  never  believed 
that  she  would  turn  so  lightly  to  another,  but  I  the  more 
delighted  in  tormenting  myself  with  my  imagined 
wrongs.  If  she  could  be  so  soon  false,  I  told  myself, 
she  never  had  been  true ;  yet  her  blue  gray  eyes,  like  a 
summer  sky  half  clouded,  haunted  me  both  day  and 
night.  I  knew  my  nature  to  be  stubborn,  but  I  had 
never  known  how  deeply  it  could  hold  the  roots  of  its 
affections  and  refuse  to  give  them  up.  Yet  every  week 
I  drilled  my  yeomen  with  Ephraim's  aid,  and  set  my 
teeth,  vowing  that  the  little  Royalist  should  never  have 
the  opportunity  to  scorn  a  patriot  and  a  soldier;  but, 
alas  for  me  !  the  hours  were  dull  indeed. 

One  day,  in  February,  when  the  snow  lay  white  upon 
the  land,  and  the  forest  trees,  bare  of  foliage,  were 
sheathed  in  a  beautiful  garb  of  ice,  sparkling  like  crystals 
in  the  sun,  I  was  walking  alone  toward  Town  Landing, 
when  I  met  my  father,  coming  in  the  same  direction. 
We  walked  together  for  a  little  space  in  silence,  and 
then  it  was  he  who  spoke. 

"John,"  he  began,  with  one  of  his  rare  sweet  smiles 
which  lighted  his  brown  eyes  so  pleasantly,  "  I  have 
been  talking  with  Joyce." 

I  turned  a  startled  glance  upon  him.  It  was  long 
since  one  of  us  had  spoken  with  a  Talbot,  —  five  months 
at  least,  —  and  I  knew  that  Sir  Anthony  was  bitter 
against  us. 

"She  was  here  in  Salem  two  hours  ago,"  my  father 
continued.  "  I  met  her  on  Turner's  Lane  near  the 
ferry,  where  the  carriage  stood  waiting  for  her.  She 
had  only  her  woman  with  her,  having  come  upon  some 
errand,  and  was  as  shy  of  me  as  any  startled  fawn  ;  yet 
after  a  while  we  talked  together  freely,  and  she  walked 
up  and  down  with  me  in  the  lane.  My  son,  the  little 


/  AM  A   CAPTAIN  OF  MILITIA.  63 

maid  loves  you  still,  and  I  doubt  not  that  her  father 
makes  the  house  unhappy  with  his  evil  temper,  driving 
them  all  before  him  like  a  flock  of  sheep." 

Now  my  heart  had  leaped  up  at  his  words,  but  I  kept 
still  a  grave  countenance  and  bent  my  eyes  upon  the 
ground. 

"  It  was  she  who  dismissed  me,"  I  said  proudly,  "  of 
her  own  free  will,  for  Joyce  is  not  timid  like  Lady  Talbot. 
She  can  cajole  Sir  Anthony  as  no  one  else  would  dare." 

"Ay,  that  may  be,"  replied  my  father,  quietly,  "and 
yet  it  may  be  not  all  of  her  own  will.  A  young  maid 
is  hard  to  understand,  and  sensitive  as  any  flower  that 
folds  its  petals  at  a  careless  touch.  We  must  remember 
too  her  training,  and  how  dimly  she  can  understand  our 
point  of  view.  Sir  Anthony  is  a  Tory  of  the  Tories; 
to  him  a  Whig  is  a  compound  of  the  Puritan  and  the 
devil,  —  both  intolerable.  I  could  gather  something  of 
her  mind  from  the  grave  questions  that  she  put  to  me 
in  all  good  faith.  She  asked  me  if  it  would  not  be  a  sin 
to  fight  against  the  king,  and  if  we  —  she  intended  all 
the  colonists  —  would  dare  to  draw  the  sword."  The 
judge  smiled  sadly.  "  Poor  child  !  to  her  such  action 
is  an  enormity." 

"Did  she  listen  to  you  with  patience?"  I  inquired, 
picturing  these  two  in  their  grave  argument. 

"With  patience,  but  scarcely  with  full  comprehen 
sion,"  he  replied  gently.  "  Her  mind  is  keen  enough, 
but  prejudice  blinds  the  eyes.  We  parted  however  with 
good-will  on  either  side,  and  she  kissed  her  hand  to  me 
as  the  carriage  drove  away." 

"  She  ever  bore  you  a  sincere  affection,"  I  said  with 
half  a  pang  of  jealousy. 

He  smiled  tenderly  as  he  replied,  "  And  I  ever  loved 
the  little  maid." 


64  A    YANKEE    VOLUNTEER. 

The  next  day  being  the  Sabbath,  I  had  my  horse 
saddled  in  the  afternoon,  and  crossing  the  ferry  rode  to 
Marblehead.  I  would  even  see  my  love  once  more,  I 
thought,  and  have  the  matter  settled  once  for  all.  If 
she  loved  me  nothing  should  part  us,  not  even  the  king 
himself  if  he  stood  between.  Thus  bravely  did  I  think 
of  it,  and  urged  my  horse  forward  on  the  frozen  ground, 
which  rang  like  stone  beneath  his  iron  hoofs.  There 
was  a  bit  of  road  approaching  the  town  that  lay  straight 
across  the  moors  and  in  sight  of  the  spire  of  Saint 
Michael's.  It  was  at  this  open  spot  that  I  saw  two 
figures  before  me,  walking  by  the  roadside.  Something 
in  the  man's  bearing  that  suggested  the  lover  drew  my 
notice  to  them  from  the  first ;  but  so  absorbed  were  they 
in  each  other  that  neither  saw  me,  nor  heeded  my  ap 
proach.  It  needed  no  long  scrutiny  to  recognize  them ; 
the  man  was  Beresford,  the  woman — Joyce.  Only 
when  I  passed,  did  she  turn  a  startled  face  and  our 
eyes  met.  My  horse  went  a  few  paces  more  before  I 
turned  his  head  sharply  and,  half  drawing  rein,  made 
her  a  grave  salute  and  rode  by  them  slowly.  After 
wards,  touching  spurs  to  my  poor  beast,  I  galloped  back 
to  the  ferry,  a  sharp  sting  at  my  heart  and  rny  pride  on 
fire. 


CHAPTER   IX. 

DICK. 

AFTER  seeing  my  love  forgetful  of  me,  and  so  lightly 
won  to  look  upon  another's  suit  with  favor,  I  hardened 
my  heart  against  her,  letting  all  my  doubts  of  her  have 
mastery,  and  so  thrust  the  little  faithful  star  of  hope  into 
outer  darkness.  The  sky  was  no  more  blue  to  me,  nor 
did  the  sun  sparkle  upon  the  broad  waves  of  the  bay ; 
the  cloud  in  my  heart  obscured  the  brightness  of  the 
world  without.  In  the  weeks  that  followed,  I  was  a  sol 
dier  only,  and  the  king  had  no  more  violent  opponent 
than  I  was  then ;  his  Majesty's  uniform  was  hateful  to 
my  eye,  and  I  became  a  most  determined  Whig.  I 
locked  the  secret  of  my  discovery  in  my  own  heart,  tell 
ing  no  one,  and  I  think  that  my  father  marvelled  greatly 
that  his  talk  with  me  of  Joyce  had  brought  so  poor 
results. 

While  I  was  still  sore  from  the  wound  inflicted,  I  was 
destined  to  yet  another  trial,  and  from  a  Talbot  too. 
One  dull  afternoon  I  had  been  out  with  my  militiamen 
and  was  walking  home  alone.  I  had  climbed  the  steep 
ascent  to  the  summit  of  Gallows  Hill,  which  is  a  small 
sharp  eminence,  its  surface  broken  with  the  edges  of 
gray  bowlders,  with  the  open  moors  on  one  hand  and  on 
the  other,  Salem.  On  the  barren  height  I  paused  a 
moment  and  looked  out  over  the  white  landscape  with 
only  the  brown  of  the  naked  woodland  to  break  the 
sheen  of  frozen  snow.  Bleak  and  rugged  is  the  spot,  and 

5 


66  A    YANKEE    VOLUNTEER. 

swept  by  the  salt  wind,  and  I  found  small  comfort  in  the 
prospect.  Turning  my  face  toward  the  town,  I  de 
scended  slowly,  and  at  the  foot  of  the  hill  came  suddenly 
on  a  British  officer,  the  smart  scarlet  of  his  uniform 
and  the  erectness  of  his  figure  challenging  attention.  It 
was  Dick  Talbot,  and  the  sight  of  his  face  startled  me. 
Like  Joyce,  he  had  inherited  his  mother's  beauty,  but  he 
had  also  his  father's  temper.  He  had  the  same  wavy  light 
brown  hair  and  fair  complexion,  but  his  eyes  were  more 
boldly  blue  than  those  of  Joyce,  and  he  lacked  her 
beauty  of  expression ;  yet  was  he  a  fine  young  fellow, 
and  had  the  jaunty  air  of  a  dandy.  I  had  always  a 
warm  place  in  my  heart  for  Dick,  for  his  sister's  sake, 
and  I  greeted  him  as  a  friend  still,  in  spite  of  the  differ 
ences  between  the  families ;  but  he  drew  himself  up  with 
insolent  hauteur  and  eyed  me  coldly  enough. 

"  Nay,  Mr.  Allen,"  he  said  with  a  boy's  bravado,  "  I 
have  no  hand  to  give,  save  to  the  king's  good  subjects. 
The  hour  has  come  when  we  must  know  the  true  and  the 
false." 

"  Have  it  your  own  way,  Dick,"  said  I,  with  forbear 
ance,  "  but  I  forget  not  my  friends  so  easily.  A  short 
memory  runs  in  your  family,  though,  I  believe." 

His  cheek  burned,  for  he  had  a  choleric  temper. 

"  I  do  not  understand  you,"  he  flashed  out  hotly  j  "  no 
one  shall  speak  lightly  of  me  or  mine.  I  thought  you  a 
man  of  peace,  —  no  soldier,  —  but  what  is  that  you  wear 
at  your  side,  sir?  " 

It  was  now  my  turn  to  flush,  for  Ephraim  had  insisted 
that  I  should  wear  my  great-grandsire's  sword,  famous  at 
Naseby,  and  as  I  was  fresh  from  drill  it  hung  at  my  side. 

"  It  is  a  season  when  men  must  wear  their  weapons 
and  learn  to  use  them  too,"  I  replied  with  more  heat 
than  wisdom. 


DICK.  67 

Dick's  lip  curled  scornfully,  and  he  assumed  a  mock 
ing  manner. 

"  I  have  heard,"  he  said  bitterly,  "  but  I  did  not  credit 
it,  that  you  were  in  command  of  a  company  of  plough 
men  and  haymakers  arrayed  against  the  king." 

"  A  company  of  honest  yeomen,"  I  answered,  "  not 
arrayed  against  his  Majesty,  but  ready  to  resist  the  Min 
isterial  army  in  its  unjust  and  unlawful  aggressions." 

"  Ton  my  soul,"  Dick  exclaimed,  "  I  did  not  think  to 
hear  such  hypocrisy  save  from  some  long-eared  Puritan  ! 
The  '  Ministerial  army ' !  A  damnable  invention  to  de 
ceive  the  people  !  The  king's  army,  since  we  hold  the 
king's  commission  to  whip  his  rebels  from  here  into  the 
wilderness." 

"  Be  not  too  hasty,"  I  replied,  controlling  my  own 
rising  passion  ;  "  it  is  easier  said  than  done,  as  some  may 
find  it  to  their  cost.  We  men  of  Massachusetts  Colony 
are  minded  to  resist  the  oppressor  with  steadfast  pur 
pose,  and  such  resistance  has  prevailed  before." 

"  You  are  a  traitor,  sir !  "  he  cried  in  a  headlong 
passion,  his  blue  eyes  on  fire ;  "  and  it  is  you,  and  such 
as  you,  that  sow  rebellion  in  these  Provinces." 

"  What  will  you  do?  "  I  answered  tauntingly,  for  I  was 
full  of  angry  folly ;  "  we  are  free  men,  and  you  cannot 
gag  our  utterance  nor  choke  our  demands  of  justice." 

"  We  can  whip  you  to  obedience,"  he  said  between 
his  teeth.  "  Draw,"  he  added  fiercely ;  "  unless  you  be 
a  coward  as  well  as  a  traitor,  we  can  fight  this  to  the 
issue." 

His  sword  flew  from  its  scabbard,  —  these  young  gal 
lants  of  the  royal  service  loved  an  appeal  to  the  duel ; 
but  even  in  the  midst  of  my  own  blind  folly  and  anger, 
I  saw  the  look  of  Joyce  on  his  face,  and  no  power  could 
prevail  against  that  dear  resemblance. 


68  A    YANKEE    VOLUNTEER. 

"  Put  up  your  sword,"  I  said  coldly ;  "  I  have  no 
quarrel  with  Richard  Talbot." 

He  was  furious,  and  could  ill  brook  the  thought  of 
being  balked  in  his  purpose.  He  tried  to  lash  me  to 
madness. 

"  Then  are  you  indeed  a  Yankee  coward  !  "  he  cried 
scornfully,  "  or  it  may  be  that  you  have  not  learned  to 
use  the  sword  of  your  damned  Puritan  ancestor." 

"  Have  done,  Richard,"  I  said  proudly,  "  and  let  me 
pass.  I  would  not  harm  a  hair  of  your  head.  The 
insults  you  pour  upon  me  are  unworthy  of  you." 

His  better  nature  was  half  shamed,  and  he  gave  place 
a  little,  so  I  passed  him. 

"When  will  you  fight  me?"  he  called  after  me,  and 
I  turned  upon  him  gravely. 

"Never,"  I  said  firmly;  "you  are  the  brother  of  Joyce 
Talbot." 

"  Now,  by  heaven  !  "  he  cried  out  with  fresh  passion, 
"  her  —  you  shall  not  have  !  Joyce  should  wed  the 
blacksmith  in  the  royal  army  before  she  married  a 
traitor ! " 

"Nay,"  I  said  with  sudden  proud  composure,  "con 
trol  your  anger,  boy.  Your  sister  is  not  a  chattel  in 
your  hands,  and  your  lips  should  learn  to  honor  her 
too  much  for  such  comparison.  If  she  loved  me,  no 
opposition  of  yours  should  bar  the  way." 

He  laughed  harshly,  his  handsome  boyish  face  dis 
torted  by  his  temper ;  yet  a  graceful  picture  in  his 
scarlet  coat  and  buff  breeches,  his  high  boots  and  pol 
ished  spurs,  his  hat  set  with  a  rakish  air  upon  his  pow 
dered  peruke,  his  hand  on  his  half-sheathed  sword. 
Behind  him,  the  snowy  hill  made  a  white  background 
that  threw  his  easy  figure  into  sharp  relief.  He  looked 
at  me  with  fierce  anger  in  his  blue  eyes. 


DICK.  69 

"  High  words,  Mr.  Allen,"  he  said  mockingly,  "  but 
my  sister  has  no  love  for  a  traitor  !  " 

And  my  heart  being  sore  yet  with  the  thought  of 
Joyce,  I  held  my  peace  and  went  my  way  without  retort. 
Doubtless  the  boy  had  told  the  truth,  and  my  love  was 
mine  no  longer.  Oh  the  bitterness  of  it !  You  who 
do  not  know  what  it  may  be  to  lose  one  out  of  your  life 
who  being  in  it  was  the  better  part,  can  neither  know 
the  sorrow  nor  the  joy  of  it.  It  is  better  to  know  what 
love  is  than  to  live  in  a  dead  selfishness  without  sacri 
fice  or  pain  or  gladness,  which  come  all  together,  and 
so  keenly  when  we  love,  as  we  should,  honestly  and 
with  a  true  heart  purely,  as  God  intended  that  a  true 
man  —  and  woman  —  should. 


CHAPTER  X. 

AT  THE  OLD   NORTH   BRIDGE. 

ON  the  twenty-sixth  of  February,  being  Sunday  and 
the  people  at  meeting,  a  detachment  of  the  Ministerial 
army  landed  at  Marblehead.  Some  cannon  and  gun- 
carriages  were  stored  at  Salem,  and  Governor  Gage  de 
signed  to  seize  these,  as  he  had  seized  other  war  ma 
terial  wheresoever  he  could  find  it.  Yet  was  his  purpose 
of  secrecy  defeated  by  the  vigilance  of  the  patriots,  for 
they  were  determined  to  resist  his  aggressions.  Indeed, 
the  chief  anxiety  of  the  selectmen  and  the  Committees 
of  Safety  was  that  the  passions  of  the  people  would  be 
excited  to  some  overt  act  that  would  rather  prejudice 
than  aid  our  cause.  So  eager  was  the  watchfulness  of 
patriotism  that  scarce  had  the  troops  landed  at  Marble- 
head  ere  the  tidings  were  brought  to  us  at  Salem,  by 
Major  Pedrick,  and  the  town  was  in  a  tumult.  There 
was  but  one  thought,  and  that  was  to  resist  the  royal 
army ;  and  no  consideration  was  given  to  our  state,  so 
totally  unequal  to  meet  the  foe.  Had  we  of  the  colonies 
thought  of  the  great  odds  that  did  exist,  we  should 
never  have  had  the  heart  or  courage  to  meet  our  en 
emies.  It  is  the  impetuosity  of  a  popular  uprising  that 
sustains  it. 

I  recollect  the  change  that  came  upon  that  quiet 
town  on  the  Sabbath  day,  which  had  been  still,  as  for  a 
Puritan  meeting ;  the  congregations  were  dismissed  and 
poured  out  of  the  churches,  and  the  bells  were  rung, 


AT  THE   OLD  NORTH  BRIDGE.  fl 

while  drums  beat  and  signal-guns  sounded.  The  women 
gathered,  excited  and  alarmed,  upon  the  doorsteps,  while 
the  men  turned  to  the  stern  work  that  was  before  them ; 
some  ran  to  the  bridge  over  the  South  River,  on  Mill 
Street,  and  began  to  destroy  it,  to  obstruct  the  march  of 
the  English  troops,  while  others  set  their  faces  at  once 
toward  the  old  North  Bridge.  Behind  it  lay  the  cannon, 
and  here  the  issue  must  be  disputed  to  the  end.  It  was 
the  work  of  a  few  moments  to  hoist  the  draw  in  the  great 
bridge,  and  then  the  Yankees  gathered  upon  the  northern 
side  and  waited,  with  dogged  determination,  for  the 
enemy.  The  militiamen  were  here,  my  own  company 
partially  represented,  and  others  also,  not  more,  however, 
than  fifty  strong,  but  reinforced  by  the  townspeople,  and 
under  the  command  of  Colonel  Pickering,  with  whom  were 
also  Captains  Felt  and  Ward.  In  that  moment  of  excite 
ment  the  wiser  heads  amongst  us,  foreseeing  grave  trouble 
if  the  people  were  uncurbed,  pleaded  for  patience.  My 
father,  being  held  in  high  esteem,  addressed  a  few  per 
tinent  words  to  us,  urging  forbearance  unless  we  were 
assailed,  since  unprovoked  violence  would  but  injure  our 
just  cause  and  imperil  our  homes  and  families.  He  was 
listened  to  with  patience,  and  it  seemed  as  if  his  wise 
remonstrance  touched  their  hearts,  but  it  was  a  time  of 
sharp  suspense ;  men  looked  into  each  other's  faces 
grimly  and  with  a  purpose  which  wavered  not.  Then 
came  the  tidings  that  the  redcoats  were  in  sight,  coming 
up  through  South  Fields  with  flaunting  colors.  Major 
Pedrick,  of  Marblehead,  had  told  us  that  the  British 
were  commanded  by  Colonel  Leslie,  and  my  father 
knew  him,  by  reputation,  as  a  man  of  some  forbearance 
and  justice,  so  that  we  entertained  a  hope  of  a  peaceful 
issue,  although  the  temper  of  the  people  was  so  danger 
ous.  We  at  the  North  Bridge  had  a  brief  space  for  prepa- 


72  A    YANKEE    VOLUNTEER. 

ration,  for  the  enemy  was  forced  to  halt  at  Mill  Street  to 
repair  the  bridge,  and  would  doubtless  have  delayed 
longer  and  lost  time  but  for  a  Tory  lawyer,  one  Samuel 
Porter,  of  Ipswich,  who,  being  like  some  small  men  of  his 
trade,  —  a  busybody,  —  ran  to  tell  the  British  that  the 
cannon  were  in  North  Salem.  Colonel  Leslie  immedi 
ately  proceeded,  and,  after  a  brief  pause  at  the  court 
house,  advanced  upon  us.  There  was  a  glint  of  steel,  a 
blaze  of  scarlet,  and  the  main  body  of  regulars  appeared 
before  us,  compact,  unwavering,  gayly  indifferent  to  the 
townspeople,  whom  they  called  "  poor  rustics."  At  the 
sight  of  that  martial  array  a  stern  murmur  rose  amongst 
us,  and  each  man  grasped  his  weapon,  whether  it  was 
a  musket  or  a  pitchfork,  with  sullen  resolution.  They, 
on  their  side,  halted  and  viewed  our  position  with  some 
surprise.  There  could  be  no  doubt  of  our  hostility ;  the 
hoisted  draw  and  the  sullen  array  across  the  river  were 
sufficient  warning.  Two  large  open  boats  lay  on  the 
other  side,  and  their  owners  were  endeavoring  to  scuttle 
them  before  they  could  be  seized ;  and  this  Colonel  Les 
lie's  quick  eye  discovered,  as  events  proved,  at  once. 
He  called  now  upon  the  good  people  of  Salem  to  lower 
the  drawbridge  for  his  Majesty's  soldiers  to  pass  over, 
declaring  that  we  had  no  right  to  obstruct  the  king's 
highway. 

"  Nay,"  responded  one  of  the  patriots,  "  this  is  a  pri 
vate  way ;  it  belongs  to  North  Fields,"  he  referred  to  an 
old  dispute  about  the  private  ownership  of  the  bridge, 
which  Colonel  Leslie  did  not  understand,  but  it  sufficed ; 
"  you  have  no  authority  to  demand  a  passage  here." 

Whereupon  the  royalist  colonel  told  us  that  he  would 
order  his  men  to  fire,  if  we  resisted  his  lawful  authority. 

"  Fire  and  be  damned  !  "  replied  Captain  Joshua  Ward 
of  our  militia,  a  stout  and  fiery  Whig ;  and  his  retort  drew 


AT  THE   OLD  NORTH  BRIDGE.  73 

forth  a  round  of  applause  from  the  sober  church-going 
folk  behind  him.  There  is  a  time  when  an  oath  keeps 
a  man  from  a  worse  deed. 

Seeing  the  sullen  obstinacy  of  his  opponents,  and  no 
doubt  aware  that  a  breach  of  the  peace  would  precipitate 
a  hideous  struggle,  Colonel  Leslie  seemed  to  waver  be 
tween  force  and  negotiation,  and,  it  may  be,  loved  not 
the  thought  of  sending  his  regulars  against  these  half- 
armed,  undisciplined  people.  Yet  his  forbearance  served 
only  to  incite  the  Whigs  to  greater  opposition ;  the 
weaker  side,  as  always,  gaining  courage  as  the  stronger 
hesitated.  However,  almost  immediately,  the  colonel 
gave  the  order  for  his  troops  to  advance  and  cross  in 
the  two  boats,  in  detachments,  as  they  might.  But, 
before  the  regulars  could  reach  the  vessels,  their  owners 
had  leaped  into  them  to  finish  the  task  of  scuttling. 
Foremost  in  this  work  was  a  tall,  lank  figure  in  a  short- 
waisted  green  coat. 

"You  lobster  backs  had  better  stay  up  to  Boston," 
Ephraim  shouted,  waving  his  long  arms  in  defiance,  as 
he  stood  up  in  the  gondola.  *• 

"  Seize  the  boats  in  the  king' s  name  !  "  cried  a  Brit 
ish  sergeant,  running  down  to  the  shore  and  grasping  the 
gunwale  close  to  Minot. 

"  Darn  the  king  ! "  replied  Ephraim,  bringing  an  oar 
down  sharply  on  the  soldier's  hand ;  "  the  Port  Bill  is 
working  two  ways  here,  young  man,  and  you  can  let  go 
there,  or  one  of  us  two  will  get  hurt." 

The  redcoat  responded  with  his  bayonet ;  but  Ephraim, 
being  agile  as  a  wildcat,  leaped  aside  and  dealt  another 
effective  blow  with  his  oar,  which  sent  the  soldier  floun 
dering  into  the  water,  while  his  opponent  remained  un 
ruffled.  A  tumult  arose  at  this ;  other  soldiers,  following 
the  sergeant's  example,  engaged  in  a  scuffle  with  the 


74  A    YANKEE    VOLUNTEER. 

stragglers  on  that  side  of  the  river,  endeavoring  to  secure 
the  boats,  and  their  bayonets  drew  blood.  A  young  man 
from  Marblehead,  one  Robert  Wormsted,  an  expert  fencer, 
engaged  in  a  quarrel  with  several  redcoats  at  once,  and, 
with  no  better  weapon  than  his  stout  cane,  disarmed  six  of 
them.  It  was  a  pretty  sight  to  see  him  use  his  good  right 
arm,  and  verily  I  think  the  British  admired  him  as  much 
as  we  did.  All  these  things  were  but  the  play  of  a  few 
breathless  moments,  the  prelude  of  more  serious  work, 
for  Colonel  Leslie  had  lost  patience.  He  ordered  his 
men  to  face  and  fire  just  as  the  voice  of  the  young  pas 
tor  of  the  North  Church  made  itself  heard  above  the  up 
roar.  He  stood  forth,  upon  our  side  of  the  bridge,  and 
called  and  beckoned  to  the  colonel,  who,  taking  him  for 
a  herald  of  negotiation,  stayed  his  men  who  were  on  the 
point  of  obeying  his  sanguinary  order.  There  was  a  sud 
den  pause,  and  we  all  heard  the  clergyman's  appeal,  made 
in  a  clear,  unfaltering  tone. 

"  You  cannot  commit  this  violation  against  innocent 
men  here,  on  this  holy  day,"  he  said,  "  without  sinning 
against  God  and  humanity.  Let  me  entreat  you  to 
return." 

"And  who  are  you,  young  sir?"  Leslie  asked,  im 
pressed,  I  think,  by  the  speaker's  manner. 

"  I  am  Thomas  Barnard,"  was  the  quiet  reply,  "  a 
minister  of  the  gospel ;  and  my  mission  is  peace." 

And  he  went  on  to  set  forth  with  simple  eloquence  the 
wickedness  of  strife  and  bloodshed  in  such  a  cause. 
Doubtless  his  argument  would  have  failed  but  for  Leslie's 
own  moderation ;  however,  that  wise  man  eagerly  em 
braced  the  opportunity  to  stem  the  tide  of  the  rebellion 
and  signified  his  willingness  to  negotiate.  My  father, 
with  Mr.  Barnard  and  the  more  quiet  of  the  townsmen, 
responded  readily,  and  the  scuffle  on  the  further  bank 


AT   THE  OLD  NORTH  BRIDGE.  f$ 

ceased  while  they  consulted.  But  the  people  were  im 
patient  of  delay ;  blood  had  been  drawn,  and  though  the 
wounds  were  but  scratches,  the  pride  of  the  patriots  was 
roused  and  there  were  many  eager  to  engage  in  an  un 
equal  strife.  On  the  other  hand,  the  regulars  were  no 
less  anxious  to  avenge  the  spirited  resistance  which,  in 
their  eyes,  was  the  insolence  of  rebels.  Happily,  there 
was  to  be  no  meeting  between  these  unequal  foes ;  after 
much  sharp  talking,  Colonel  I^eslie  yielded  to  Mr.  Bar 
nard's  persuasion,  and,  to  avoid  bloodshed,  submitted  to 
our  conditions,  humiliating  though  they  must  have  been. 
He  pledged  his  word  of  honor  to  advance  but  thirty 
rods  beyond  the  bridge,  and  then  to  countermarch,  with 
out  touching  the  cannon  he  had  come  so  far  to  seek. 
After  much  pleading  and  remonstrance  from  the  wiser 
men  among  us,  the  people  consented,  and  forming  in  a 
line,  before  which  Leslie  must  march,  they  allowed  the 
drawbridge  to  be  lowered  in  sullen  silence. 

Thus  Salem  failed  to  fire  the  first  shot  for  the  inde 
pendence  of  Massachusetts  Bay.  But  the  Yankees  and 
the  soldiers  measured  one  another ;  great  was  the  red 
coat's  contempt  for  the  rustic ;  he  saw  not  the  resolute 
heart  beating  beneath  the  shabby  coat,  nor  the  stern 
purpose  of  the  simple  soul.  The  bone  and  sinew  of  a 
country  are  behind  the  plough  and  in  the  hayfield ;  it  is 
not  rich  apparel  that  makes  the  steadfast  spirit.  It  was 
Cromwell,  that  great  captain,  who  said  that  he  would 
rather  have  a  russet-coated  soldier  who  knew  and  loved 
what  he  fought  for,  "  than  that  which  you  call  a  gentle 
man,  and  is  nothing  else."  It  is  ever  so;  the  cause 
that  is  in  ragged  guise  wins  not  the  world's  respect,  yet 
a  hero  is  rarely  clad  in  purple  and  fine  linen.  The 
sword  of  the  Lord  and  of  Gideon  is  more  often  in  the 
poor  man's  hand,  and  He  who  is  the  God  of  Hosts 


76  A    YANKEE    VOLUNTEER. 

regards  the  cause  of  the  righteous  and  the  oppressed 
rather  than  the  might  of  the  rulers  of  this  world,  and  the 
princes  thereof. 

Quietly,  but  with  stern  displeasure,  did  the  towns 
people  regard  the  redcoats.  They  came  across  the 
bridge  and  marched  and  countermarched  before  our 
lines,  grimly  humiliated,  doubtless,  because  they  were 
forced  to  leave  us  unmolested  and  in  triumphant  pos 
session  of  the  guns ;  no  word  was  said,  although  a  spark 
would  have  kindled  the  fire.  They  departed  just  in  time, 
for  as  the  last  column  marched  out  of  Salem,  a  company 
of  militia  came  in  from  Danvers  and  the  country  was 
rising  on  every  side.  The  forbearance  of  Colonel  Leslie 
and  the  eloquence  of  Mr.  Barnard  had  averted  a  bloody 
conflict,  but  we  felt  that  it  could  not  now  be  long  before 
the  end  would  come.  Men  dispersed  gravely  to  their 
homes ;  the  sword  had  entered  the  land,  and  which  of  us 
could  foretell  the  outcome  ?  Peace  wears  the  sweetest 
aspect  when  she  spreads  her  wings  to  leave  us,  and  War 
frowns  most  fiercely  when  upon  our  threshold.  We  felt, 
too,  now  more  keenly  the  sufferings  of  Boston,  which  lay 
in  a  state  of  siege,  its  poor  supported  by  the  charity 
of  the  colonies  and  its  rich  soon  likely  to  be  poor,  since 
business  was  paralyzed  and  not  even  a  load  of  hay  might 
be  ferried  to  its  wharves.  Men-of-war  lay  in  its  harbor 
ready  to  seize  the  humblest  boat  which  attempted  to 
bring  aid  to  the  suffering  town,  and  Boston  Neck  bristled 
with  fortifications,  while  troops  paraded  in  the  streets  in 
open  defiance  of  the  people  and  the  laws.  The  charter 
of  the  province  was  a  dead  letter,  and  the  governor  was 
even  forced  to  rule  with  military  support,  since  his  dep 
uties  and  collectors  were  despised  by  the  people.  The 
patriots  were  gathering  arms  and  ammunition  into  the 
country,  heedless  of  the  cry  of  "  rebellion  "  that  the 


AT  THE  OLD  NORTH  BRIDGE.  77 

Tories  raised,  and  thus  the  spring  advanced  and  on 
both  sides  there  was  a  watchful  defiance,  while  we 
armed  ourselves  and  waited  for  the  hour  that  was  now 
at  hand. 

The  month  of  March  passed  away  without  an  open 
conflict,  but  the  two  parties  were  preparing  for  the  last 
extremity.  The  temper  of  the  provinces  grew  daily 
more  stubborn;  yet  Parliament  waited  to  see  the  col 
onists  prostrate  in  submission  !  The  eloquence  of  Chat 
ham  awoke  no  wisdom  in  their  counsels.  The  British 
officers  in  Boston  even  boasted  that  the  spirit  of  the 
patriots  was  broken  ;  thus  do  fools  close  their  eyes  to  an 
unwelcome  truth  and  rush  upon  their  fate. 


CHAPTER  XL 

THE   CALL  TO   ARMS. 

APRIL  came  to  us  at  last,  with  skies  of  milder  blue, 
and  the  clouds  no  longer  carried  snow-drifts  in  their 
bosoms.  The  sea,  too,  showed  less  purple  in  its  billows, 
reflecting  instead  the  blue  above,  in  deeper  hues,  and 
beating  more  gently  on  the  rugged  cliffs.  The  moor 
lands,  clad  so  long  in  snow,  were  touched  now  upon  the 
sunny  slopes  with  a  tender  green  that  blended  softly 
with  the  sober  tints  of  winter,  and  the  same  new  life 
showed  here  and  there  in  the  bare  brown  woods  where 
the  earlier  trees  were  budding.  There,  too,  on  sheltered 
banks,  and  about  the  feet  of  the  great  oak-trees,  bloomed 
already  the  blue  squirrel  cups,  and  in  the  midst  of  dead 
fallen  leaves  lay  the  sweet  pink  blossoms  of  the  ground 
laurel  which  I  have  since  heard  called  arbutus.  All 
nature  was  thrilling  with  new  life ;  the  young  buds  on 
the  fruit-trees  were  swelling,  and  the  earth,  no  longer 
stiff  and  hard  with  ice,  yielded  to  the  plough  in  rich  black 
furrows.  I  recollect  that  Aunt  Dorcas  had  already 
sowed  her  sweet  peas  and  was  having  her  garden  beds 
set  in  order  for  the  early  seed-time. 

When  the  great  day  came,  we  were  less  apprehensive 
than  usual.  Trouble,  long  anticipated,  grows  to  be  a 
phantom  of  imagination,  and  its  threatening  aspect 
assumes  a  pleasant  unreality.  We  had  bidden  guests 
to  dinner  on  the  nineteenth  of  April,  and  passed  a 
cheerful  afternoon.  One  of  our  visitors,  but  lately  re- 


THE  CALL    TO  ARMS.  79 

turned  from  England,  told  us  of  the  talk  in  London  of 
King  George's  animosity  toward  America,  —  the  same 
gossip  that  we  had  heard  in  Philadelphia,  but  we  were 
still  loath  to  believe  it,  though  it  was  no  new  tale,  but 

*  one  threadbare  with  the  patriots.  The  night  was  serene, 
still,  and  moonlight,  and  no  one  dreamed  of  the  prepara 
tions  on  foot  in  Boston.  We  went  to  our  rest  early,  for 
Salem  kept  sober  hours  and  eschewed  dissipation.  We 
slept  gently,  too,  with  no  premonitions  of  danger.  At 
daybreak  there  were  rumors  that  signal-fires  had  been 
burning  in  the  country  at  midnight,  some  good  people 

.  even  claiming  to  have  heard  the  alarm  guns ;  but  little 
heed  was  given  to  these  stories  until  a  horseman  came 
down  Essex  Street  at  a  full  gallop,  and  the  bells  began 
to  toll.  It  was  the  courier  from  Boston  bearing  the 
fateful  tidings  :  the  Ministerial  army  was  in  motion  and 
had  advanced  on  Concord,  where  arms  and  ammu 
nitions,  belonging  to  the  province,  had  been  stored. 
The  town  was  swarming  like  a  beehive  suddenly  dis 
turbed,  and  my  father  was  at  once  the  center  of  an 
eager  concourse  of  the  older  men,  who  looked  to  him 
for  counsel.  There  was  no  delay,  though  afterwards 
we  were  so  unjustly  charged  with  supineness  because 
we  came  too  late  for  the  action ;  but  verily,  we  made 
what  haste  we  could.  The  country  had  been  sum 
moned,  and  the  minute-men  came  in  from  every  side. 
Colonel  Pickering  at  once  called  out  the  militia,  and  we 
began  our  preparations  for  the  hasty  march.  Few  words 
were  spoken ;  it  was  rather  the  time  to  act,  and  some 
brief  stern  orders  were  given.  There  was  but  little  confu 
sion.  So  long  had  we  looked  for  this  hour  that  men  fell 
at  once  into  their  appointed  places.  It  was  my  portion 
to  carry  a  message  to  Marblehead,  and  return  with  the 
companies  from  there,  Colonel  Pickering  having  but 


80  A    YANKEE    VOLUNTEER. 

three  hundred  men  available  at  Salem.  Mounting  my 
horse,  I  crossed  the  ferry  and  rode  on  my  errand  alone. 
My  heart  swelled  with  passion  and  regret.  I  well  nigh 
forgot  my  mission.  Before  me  shone,  like  two  stars,  the 
blue  eyes  of  my  love,  who  was  mine  no  more.  I,  who« 
came  a  soldier,  on  a  warlike  errand,  dreamed  only  of 
Joyce  and  the  old  days  together;  so  it  is  that  love 
beguiles  us  ever. 

When  I  rode  into  Marblehead,  I  found  the  town  alive 
with  armed  men,  and  the  companies  already  formed. 
Strange  soldiers  they  seemed  too,  in  their  motley  array, 
yet  bore  themselves  like  brave  men  and  true.  The  best 
of  us  had  no  uniforms.  I  remember  that  I  wore  that* 
day  a  gray  riding-suit  with  sword  knots  of  blue,  and  a 
flat  beaver  hat  with  three  rolls,  but  I  bore  no  badge 
or  emblem  of  any  kind.  Stern  were  the  faces  of  the 
men  about  me,  bronzed  by  wind  and  sea,  and  resolute 
to  do  or  die.  Bravely  did  they  serve  in  those  long 
years  of  trial  when  we  purchased  with  blood  our  free 
dom  and  yours  who  have  come  after  us.  When  tempta 
tion  comes  to  barter  it,  remember  how  dearly  it  was 
won. 

Brief  was  the  consultation  that  I  held  with  the  com 
manders  of  the  militia  and,  the  companies  being  ready, 
we  turned  our  faces  toward  Salem  without  delay.  We 
had  been  gathered  by  the  town-hall,  and  as  we  started 
on  our  march,  women  and  children  followed  us,  so  that 
every  house  was  empty.  To  them  war  was  an  unknown 
evil,  and  they  were  rather  eager  at  the  thought  of  their 
dear  ones  going  to  uphold  the  right.  Poor  souls  !  how 
many  an  aching  heart  was  there  before  three  moons  had 
waned;  how  many  an  eye,  bright  that  day,  was  dim 
with  tears  !  We  came  on  past  Saint  Michael's,  march 
ing  slowly  through  the  crooked  streets  because  the 


THE   CALL    TO  ARMS.  8 1 

crowd  had  hemmed  us  in.  I  was  riding  in  front  with 
the  officers,  if  we  might  call  them  by  that  name,  and  as 
we  turned  the  corner  of  a  narrow  lane,  I  heard  a  dog 
bark  short  and  joyfully,  and  knew  the  sound  at  once. 
A  little  from  the  wayside,  in  a  sheltered  spot,  half  hidden 
by  the  great  trunk  of  an  ancient  elm,  stood  Joyce,  with 
Laddie  at  her  side.  Cloaked  and  hooded  as  she  was, 
I  should  have  known  the  figure  even  if  the  dog  had  not 
betrayed  her.  I  turned  my  horse  aside  to  let  the  crowd 
pass  by  me  ;  and  they  did  unheeding,  for  what  was  I  at 
such  a  time  as  that  ?  I  could  not  be  sure  that  she  would 
linger  until  I  could  speak  with  her ;  but  fate  was  kind 
to  me.  When  the  last  straggler  had  passed,  she  still 
stood  behind  her  screen,  ashamed,  I  think,  to  fly  from 
the  enemy,  for  Joyce  had  a  valiant  spirit.  I  dared  not 
hope  that  she  stayed  there  for  my  sake,  yet  my  heart 
throbbed  high  as  I  sprang  up  the  slope  and  stood  be 
fore  her,  while  Laddie  leaped  about  my  feet  for  joy. 
Because  I  felt  so  much  I  had  no  words.  My  tongue 
has  ever  been  a  poor  servant  in  my  necessity,  and  for 
the  moment  I  could  only  look  in  silence  on  her  lovely 
face.  Her  hood,  tied  underneath  her  chin,  cast  a 
shadow  over  her  brow,  and  in  her  eyes,  which  were 
more  gray  than  blue  that  morning.  I  thought  her  pale, 
but  fair  as  some  sweet  white  rose. 

"  Laddie  is  rejoiced  to  see  me,"  I  said  softly,  "  but 
you  are  silent,  Joyce  ;  have  you  no  word  of  greeting  for 
me?" 

I  saw  her  lips  quiver,  and  she  clasped  her  hands 
nervously  together. 

"  Why  are  you  here  ?  "  she  cried  in  a  low  voice,  and 
I  think  she  did  not  dream  how  harshly  the  question 
sounded  from  her  lips.  "What  are  those  men  about 
to  do?" 

6 


82  A    YANKEE    VOLUNTEER. 

Her  coldness  froze  the  warmer  impulse  in  my  heart ; 
she  had  then  no  thought  for  me. 

"  You  have  heard  the  alarum,  Joyce,"  I  said  quietly ; 
"  these  men  will  answer  the  call  to  arms  to  defend  the 
liberties  of  Massachusetts  Bay." 

"  They  will  fight !  "  she  exclaimed,  a  soft,  bright  color 
coming  into  her  pale  cheeks ;  "  with  whom,  sir?  " 

The  question  was  peremptory,  and  she  turned  upon 
me  like  a  judge  upon  a  culprit.  I  knew  the  storm  that 
I  should  rouse,  and  endeavored  to  put  it  in  the  softest 
light. 

"There  are  arms  and  ammunition  at  Concord,"  I 
said  patiently,  as  to  a  child,  "  belonging  to  the  colony, 
and  we  assume  that  Mr.  Gage  would  seize  these  stores 
as  he  has  seized  others,  and  the  people  of  Massachusetts 
are  resolved  to  resist  the  bold  oppression.  A  detach 
ment  of  the  Ministerial  army  left  Boston  last  night,  to 
proceed  secretly  upon  their  errand ;  but  it  is  said  that 
blood  has  already  been  shed,  and  the  minute-men  are 
summoned  to  the  field." 

"  These  men  are  going  to  Boston  to  fight  the  king's 
soldiers?"  she  said  in  a  clear  voice;  "then  they  are 
rebels,  and  should  be  shot ! " 

I  started  and  looked  at  her,  amazed  and  pained, 
taking  her  harsh  words  to  myself. 

"  That,  then,  is  the  fate  that  you  would  assign  to  me  ?  " 
I  asked,  and  my  own  voice  sounded  strange  to  me. 

She  gave  me  one  defiant  glance,  and  then  I  think  she 
saw  the  pain  in  my  eyes,  for  she  suddenly  broke  down, 
and  running  to  me  clasped  my  arm  in  both  her  pretty 
hands,  tears  shining  in  her  eyes. 

"  You  are  not  going,"  she  cried  softly ;  "  you  must 
not  —  shall  not  go  !  It  is  wrong  —  it  is  wicked.  John, 
stay  —  for  my  sake  !  " 


THE  CALL   TO  ARMS.  83 

Now,  she  knew  how  weak  my  heart  was  to  resist  her, 
and  she  was  using  all  a  woman's  wiles.  And  I  —  who 
had  been  starving  for  the  sight  of  her  sweet  face  —  felt 
only  a  wild  thrill  of  happiness  and  hope  renewed ;  saw 
only  her  blue  eyes  misty  with  tears,  and  forgot  all  the 
world  for  one  dear  moment  —  to  my  cost !  I  caught 
her  hands  and  held  them  close  in  mine. 

"  Joyce,"  I  whispered  passionately,  "  do  you  mean  it? 

Is  it  possible  that  you  still  love  me  a  little  ?     I  heard  that 

you  were  soon  to  wed  Francis  Beresford  —  is  it  false?  " 

"  You  know  that  it  is  false  !  "  she  exclaimed  with  a 

touch  of  her  old  petulance ;  "  why  speak  of  it  now?  " 

I  drew  a  deep  breath  of  relief.  "  Because  it  is  near 
my  heart,"  I  replied  in  a  low  voice,  looking  long  and 
fondly  at  her  lovely,  agitated  face,  and  then  with  a 
mighty  effort  I  remembered  that  my  duty  called  me. 
"  I  must  go  now,  Joyce,"  I  said  gently ;  "  do  not  let  us 
part  in  anger." 

She  drew  back,  and  her  eyes  flashed.  "Ah,"  she 
cried  bitterly,  "  you  do  not  care  for  me.  I  have  humil 
iated  my  pride  to  plead  with  you  and  you  are  deaf  to 
my  entreaties." 

"  Heaven  is  my  witness,"  I  replied  earnestly,  "  that  I 
love  you  with  all  my  soul !  I  have  hungered  for  the 
sight  of  you  through  all  these  weary  months;  to  see 
you,  to  touch  you  again,  is  happiness." 

I  laid  her  hand  against  my  cheek  with  passionate 
fondness.  She  was  quivering  from  head  to  foot  with 
some  emotion,  and  seemed  to  struggle  with  herself. 

"  If  you  love  me,  you  will  not  go  !  "  she  cried,  the 
tears  running  down  her  cheeks. 

Now  Joyce's  tears  I  could  not  bear,  and  to  think  that 
I  had  caused  them  cut  me  to  the  heart.  We  were 
alone,  the  place  was  deserted,  and,  regardless  of  her 


84  A    YANKEE    VOLUNTEER. 

anger,  I  caught  her  in  my  arms  and  tried  to  kiss  away 
her  tears,  and  she  yielded,  half  clinging  to  me. 

"You  will  not  go?"  she  whispered,  laying  her  soft 
wet  cheek  against  mine. 

"  In  heaven's  name,  Joyce,"  I  cried  bitterly,  "  do  not 
tempt  me  !  Do  not  make  such  an  issue  —  I  must  do 
my  duty." 

She  freed  herself  with  a  quick  passionate  gesture. 

"  You  do  not  love  me,"  she  declared ;  "  you  would 
not  leave  me,  if  you  did,  to  play  the  traitor  to  your 
king." 

"  I  am  no  traitor,"  I  replied  with  equal  passion,  for  I 
was  ever  but  too  hasty,  "  I  am  no  slave,  but  a  free-born 
American.  You  learn  that  ugly  name,  perhaps,  from 
Mr.  Beresford." 

She  bit  her  lip  angrily.  My  jealousy  had  flashed  out 
at  an  unhappy  moment. 

"  He,  at  least,  is  loyal,  sir,"  she  declared  hotly. 

"  Loyal  enough,  mayhap,  to  forsake  his  duty,"  I  re 
torted  bitterly,  stung  by  her  reproach. 

"  Such  a  charge  behind  a  man's  back  is  unworthy  of 
you,"  she  replied  with  coldness. 

I  looked  at  her  with  all  my  heart  on  fire  with  a 
lover's  jealousy. 

"  I  see  that  I  am  but  an  unworthy  rebel  beside  him  ! " 
I  said  bitterly. 

"  Then  learn  a  lesson  in  loyalty  from  him  ! "  she  re 
plied  as  quickly,  her  blue  eyes  aflame. 

"  Nay,"  I  answered  sternly,  "  you  must  needs  love 
the  better  man.  You  know  me  as  I  am,  a  plain  man 
who  will  do  his  duty,  and  if  you  have  ceased  to  care  for 
me,  I  must  even  learn  to  bear  it." 

"  It  seems  a  small  matter  to  you  !  "  she  said  bitterly. 

"Oh,  Joyce  !  "  I  exclaimed  with  almost  a  groan. 


THE  CALL    TO  ARMS.  8$ 

She  averted  her  face  and  would  not  look  at  me,  and 
my  heart  sank  like  lead.  Away  off  I  heard  the  shouts  of 
the  departing  men,  and  my  horse  plunged  restively. 

"  Joyce,"  I  said  in  a  low  voice,  which  faltered  as  I 
spoke,  "  I  must  go.  My  duty  calls  me  to  fight  and  per 
haps  to  die  for  the  freedom  of  my  native  land.  God 
knows  that  I  am  trying  to  do  what  is  right,  as  I  see  it, 
and  He  is  my  judge.  Bid  me  farewell,  sweetheart,  do 
not  turn  from  me  in  coldness  —  not  now  !  Do  not  let 
me  take  this  memory  of  you  away  in  my  heart.  Oh, 
Joyce,  it  grieves  my  soul  to  leave  you  so  ! " 

The  exclamation  was  wrung  from  me,  for  her  manner 
stung  me  to  the  quick.  But  she  would  not  forgive  me, 
and  her  cheeks  were  flushed,  and  her  eyes  were  dark 
with  anger. 

"  These  are  words  !  "  she  said  bitterly,  turning  an  in 
dignant  face  toward  me  ;  "  you  cannot  truly  care,  or  you 
would  not  rush  so  blindly  upon  your  fate." 

"  It  is  you  who  misjudge  me,"  I  replied  ;  "  love  would 
not  so  misunderstand  me.  That  Englishman  has  warped 
your  judgment.  Farewell,  Joyce,  may  all  good  angels 
guard  you." 

Receiving  no  response,  I  turned  sadly  and  walked 
toward  my  horse.  Laddie,  seeing  that  I  was  going,  sprang 
upon  me  with  every  evidence  of  affection.  Touched  by 
the  dog's  loyalty,  I  stopped  to  caress  him. 

"  Good-bye,  Laddie,"  I  said  ;  "  you,  at  least,  are  faith 
ful  to  old  friends." 

The  sound  of  loud  cheering  and  derisive  shouts  came 
suddenly  from  the  direction  taken  by  the  townsfolk,  and 
I  knew  that  I  could  linger  no  longer.  I  sprang  into  the 
saddle,  and,  gathering  the  reins  in  my  hand,  paused  a 
moment  to  gaze  reproachfully  at  the  slender  figure  under 
the  elm. 


86  A    YANKEE    VOLUNTEER. 

"  We  may  never  meet  again,"  I  said  in  a  choked 
voice ;  "  farewell !  " 

Then  she  looked  at  me,  and  her  face  was  white,  but 
her  eyes  sparkled  and  she  held  her  head  high. 

"  I  am  for  the  king,  sir,"  she  said,  and  turned  her 
back  upon  me. 

I  turned  my  horse's  head  toward  the  road  that  the 
militia  had  taken,  and,  dashing  my  hat  down  low  over  my 
eyes,  galloped  off.  My  emotion  had  risen  in  my  throat 
and  was  choking  me,  and  all  the  scene  swam  before  my 
dim  vision.  I  went  to  do  my  duty,  but  at  that  moment 
I  would  rather  have  felt  her  soft  arms  about  my  neck 
than  to  have  won  a  kingdom  !  A  woman  —  and  I  could 
not  reason  with  her,  but  I  loved  her  and  the  world  was 
blank  without  her.  A  young  man's  folly,  some  may  call 
it,  but  it  seems  to  me  that  a  life  without  such  folly  is  but 
a  hard  and  barren  thing.  And  though  I  say  it,  with  no 
thought  to  excuse  my  own  weakness,  I  have  never  seen 
a  brave  man  who  had  not,  too,  a  tender  heart  which  held 
some  blossom  of  beauty  and  of  life  eternal.  In  the  cleft 
of  the  sternest  rock  the  wild-flower  blooms.  Not  that  I 
was  either  more  brave  or  stern  than  others,  but  I  was 
not  alone  in  my  affection  or  my  weakness.  I  rode  on 
blindly,  with  a  load  upon  my  spirit,  and  only  the  strange 
disturbance  that  greeted  my  ear  more  sharply  as  I  ad 
vanced,  aroused  me.  There  were  jeering  calls  and 
laughter,  and  I  urged  my  horse  forward,  for  some  intui 
tion  warned  me  of  what  I  might  expect. 


CHAPTER   XII. 
SIR  ANTHONY'S  DEFIANCE. 

THE  road  taken  by  the  militia  passed  directly  in  front 
of  the  Talbot  house,  and  ere  I  turned  the  corner  that 
concealed  it  from  view,  I  had  divined  the  cause  of  the 
disturbance.  In  a  few  moments  my  suspicions  were 
confirmed ;  the  next  turn  brought  me  in  sight  of  the  old 
mansion,  and  the  scene  that  was  being  enacted  before 
it.  The  self-constituted  officers  had  ridden  on  ahead, 
and  were  not  conscious  of  the  delay  of  the  rear  guard ; 
a  small  company,  increased  by  the  idle  townspeople, 
stood  before  the  house  listening  to  an  oration  from  Sir 
Anthony.  The  nature  of  his  discourse  was  but  too 
evident  from  the  temper  of  his  audience.  His  servants 
were  gathered  in  groups  in  the  corners  of  the  front  gar 
den,  looking  on  with  frightened  faces,  and  the  newly 
organized  militia  had  paused  upon  the  march  to  listen. 
Sir  Anthony  stood  on  the  portico,  and  he  had  arrayed 
himself  in  an  old  military  coat  of  scarlet,  for  he  had 
held  the  king's  commission,  and  it  was  evident  that  he 
was  suffering  from  one  of  his  attacks  of  gout,  for  his 
swollen  foot  was  thrust  into  an  old  slipper.  His  face 
was  well  nigh  purple  with  rage,  and  the  hand  that  grasped 
his  gold-headed  cane  quivered  as  with  palsy,  while  he 
shook  the  other  fist  in  the  faces  of  his  auditors. 

I  checked  my  horse  and  advanced  slowly,  being  sorely 
perplexed  ;  my  appearance  would  but  increase  Sir  An 
thony's  fury,  and  I  could  not  be  certain  of  my  influence 


88  A    YANKEE    VOLUNTEER. 

with  the  little  crowd,  as  yet  more  diverted  than  angered 
by  the  old  Tory's  violence.  While  I  hesitated  upon 
my  own  course,  I  could  now  hear  all  that  passed,  and 
see  the  expressions  on  both  sides,  although  myself  un 
noticed. 

"Traitors!"  Sir  Anthony  shouted,  "rascals  —  scum 
of  the  earth  !  Disperse,  go  to  your  homes  before  you 
are  all  hung  as  rebels  !  " 

"  Hear  —  hear  !  "  cried  his  auditors,  with  a  good- 
natured  jeer;  "  old  Anthony  is  addressing  the  patriots." 

"  Born  rascals,  all  of  ye  !  "  replied  Sir  Anthony,  shak 
ing  his  cane  at  them,  "what  are  you  doing?  You  will 
not  pay  the  king's  taxes  —  no,  no!  you  repudiate  a 
debt  to  cancel  it !  Honest  men  —  thieves,  every 
mother's  son  of  ye  !  " 

At  this,  some  vagabond  threw  a  handful  of  mud  at 
the  old  royalist,  and  missing  him  it  spattered  on  the 
steps.  He  pointed  his  cane  at  it  in  scorn. 

"A  fit  weapon!"  he  exclaimed;  "from  mud  ye 
sprang,  and  to  mud  ye  will  return." 

Heretofore  his  auditors  had  been  good-natured,  but  at 
last  he  had  roused  some  natural  ire ;  the  foremost  made 
a  rush  at  the  fence,  and  two  or  three  small  stones  were 
thrown.  That  was  all,  for  I  rode  into  the  midst  of  the 
crowd  and  began  to  urge  them  to  go  on.  But  Sir 
Anthony,  far  from  daunted,  stood  there  shaking  his  cane 
in  their  faces. 

"  Come  on  !  "  he  cried  exultantly,  "  come  on  !  One 
gouty  old  man  can  whip  you  all !  " 

For  the  moment,  it  seemed  that  I  might  not  prevail 
against  the  tumult  that  he  had  provoked;  his  insults 
were  but  the  climax  of  a  long  defiance  of  his  fellow 
townsmen,  and  these,  being  of  the  rougher  class,  would 
fain  have  administered  a  lesson  and  were  little  disposed 


SIR  ANTHONY'S  DEFIANCE.  89 

to  relinquish  their  purpose.  But  I  pleaded  and  urged 
them  to  proceed,  reminding  them  of  the  grave  cause  for 
expedition,  and  so  succeeded  at  last  'in  shaming  some, 
and,  those  of  the  better  sort  making  off  after  their  com 
rades,  the  peril  was  averted.  But  Sir  Anthony  was  far 
from  pleased  at  this  diversion  in  his  favor ;  he  longed  to 
do  battle  for  his  cause  and  resented  my  interference. 

"Turncoat ! "  he  shouted  at  me  mockingly,  "turncoat 
Allen,  let  them  come  on  —  I  can  fight  them  —  I  want 
to  fight  them  !  " 

I  turned  a  deaf  ear  to  his  reproaches,  and  gave  all  my 
energies  to  urging  the  idle  stragglers  on.  I  had  no  wish 
to  make  the  breach  between  Joyce  and  me  yet  wider, 
and  I  knew  too  well  Sir  Anthony's  temper  and  my  own. 
But  I  prevailed  more  easily  with  the  people  than  with 
him ;  he  had  no  mind  to  let  me  escape  so  happily. 

"  A  young  traitor,"  he  cried  out  in  a  loud  voice,  "  but 
a  hopeful  pattern  of  your  father  !  Judge  Allen,  indeed 
—  the  king's  magistrate;  rather,  say  I,  the  king's 
rebel !  " 

I  was  directly  in  front  of  the  house,  urging  the  last 
stragglers  away,  and  his  bitter  gibe  was  audible  to  all. 
For  myself,  I  could  bear  much ;  but  my  father  was  not 
for  such  abuse  as  this,  and  I  felt  my  face  burn,  but  con 
trolled  my  rising  passion,  remembering  who  Sir  Anthony 
was. 

"  For  shame,  old  man  !  "  I  said,  turning  sternly  upon 
him ;  "  think  rather  upon  the  troubles  that  have  come 
upon  this  unhappy  country,  and  defile  not  the  name  of 
an  upright  and  honorable  man." 

"  I  am  not  yet  so  old  that  I  may  not  chastise  a 
traitor,"  shouted  Sir  Anthony,  shaking  his  cane  at  me ; 
"  come  down  off  your  horse  and  defend  yourself  like  a 
man." 


9O  A    YANKEE    VOLUNTEER. 

"  I  will  not  quarrel  with  your  white  hairs,"  I  replied 
with  forced  composure  ;  "  you  are  sacred  from  my  sword, 
Sir  Anthony,  therefore  forbear  to  hurl  your  gibes  at  my 
father;  "  and  with  these  words  I  followed  the  departing 
stragglers,  determined  to  hear  no  more,  lest  my  patience 
should  be  tried  too  far,  and  I  should  speak  in  anger 
words  that  I  should  evermore  regret,  for  was  he  not  the 
father  of  my  love?  It  seemed  strange  too,  I  thought, 
that  he  and  Dick  should  both  have  challenged  me  to 
combat,  and  yet  had  we  more  cause  to  love  each  other, 
for  old  acquaintance'  sake,  than  to  quarrel.  But  it  is 
ever  thus.  War  brings  a  sword  that  sets  brother  against 
brother ;  in  those  bitter  years  to  come,  many  a  house 
being  divided  against  itself  fell,  and  many  an  aching 
heart  was  severed  from  kindred  and  from  friends. 

I  rode  out  of  Marblehead  with  a  far  heavier  spirit 
than  when  I  entered  it.  I  was  in  two  minds  about  the 
manner  of  my  treatment  from  Joyce ;  her  conduct  had 
been  at  cross  purposes.  She  had  shown  me  some  af 
fection,  and  I  remembered  long  that  one  brief  happy 
moment  when  she  clung  to  me,  I  felt  still  the  touch  of 
her  soft  cheek  on  mine,  yet  in  another  instant  she  had 
been  angry,  petulant,  repellent,  her  own  wayward  self. 
But  there  was  small  comfort  for  me  in  that  reflection. 
At  such  a  moment  surely  love  should  have  prevailed,  and 
yet,  I  reasoned,  did  she  realize  how  grave  was  the  crisis? 
A  woman's  heart  is  hard  to  understand,  and  hers  was  ever 
a  delightful  mystery  to  me ;  I  was  not  learned  in 
woman's  wiles,  but  she  could  read  me  through  and 
through,  and  so  torment  me  in  her  lively  moods  and 
call  me  dull ;  yet  came  to  me  always,  in  the  end,  with 
protests  that  she  loved  me  as  I  was,  and  would  not  have 
me  changed.  But  that  was  over  now — all  was  over  — 
belike,  I  thought ;  the  happy,  thoughtless  days  by  the 


S/X  ANTHONY'S  DEFIANCE.  9 1 

sea  or  in  the  orchard,  when  the  apple  blossoms  dropped 
their  petals  like  a  rosy  snow  about  us,  and  the  perfume 
of  the  clover  made  the  soft  air  sweet  while  the  robins 
called  to  each  other  overhead.  It  was  past,  like  our 
childhood ;  the  future  —  ah,  which  of  us  would  be  the 
happier  for  beholding  it? 


CHAPTER  XIII. 

WITH   THE   MINUTE-MEN. 

As  we  proceeded  upon  our  march,  we  heard  constant 
confirmation  of  the  rumors  that  the  Ministerial  army  had 
fired  upon  our  countrymen,  yet  many  of  us  could  scarcely 
credit  so  grim  a  tale.     That   blood  had  been  shed  at 
last,  seemed  improbable.     The  country  was  thoroughly 
aroused,  and  all  the  way  rustics  fell  into  line  to  reinforce 
us,  some  bringing  rusty  muskets  and  others  pitchforks, 
but  all  animated  with  a  steadfast  purpose.    The  Danvers 
men  preceded  us,  having  cut  across  the  country ;  and 
they  had  a  sharp  conflict  with  the  regulars  at  Menotomy, 
while  we  came  up  an  hour  too  late  to  cut  off  the  troops 
in  their  retreat  to  Charlestown  Neck,  where  the  guns  of 
their  ships  of  war  defended  them  from  the  people's  ven 
geance.     Though  we   pressed   forward  with    all   haste, 
marching  fifteen  miles  in  four  hours,  we  were  too  late  to 
join  the  battle,  and  were  sharply  and  unjustly  censured, 
since  surely  mortal  men  could  do  no  more.     So  indig 
nant  were  our  own  townsmen,  at  the  blame  cast  upon 
us,  that   the  town  meeting   in  August   laid   the  matter 
before  the  General  Court,  and  we  were  finally  exoner 
ated,  but  not  until  many  a  heart  was  sore  at  the  injustice. 
Unhappily,  it  was   sunset  ere  we  came    to  the  Mystic 
River,   and   already   the   broken   detachment   of  Lord 
Percy  had  retreated  in  great  confusion  through  Charles- 
town,  while  Cambridge  and    Dorchester  swarmed  with 
the  minute-men.     The  Ministerial  army,  goaded  by  the 


WITH  THE  MINUTE-MEN.  93 

aggressive  attitude  of  the  Americans,  had  committed 
many  sad  depredations.  I,  with  a  small  party,  crossed 
over  at  Penny  Ferry,  and  joined  the  troops  now  gathered 
under  General  Heath,  a  veteran  of  the  French  wars. 
On  all  sides  I  heard  sad  tales  of  the  day's  work  and  of 
the  murder  of  the  patriots  at  Lexington.  Eight  had 
fallen ;  poor  Robert  Monroe,  the  standard-bearer  of  his 
company  when  Louisburg  was  captured,  died  on  his  own 
threshold  at  his  wife's  feet.  A  woman  too,  with  her 
infant  in  her  arms,  had  been  slain  in  Menotomy,  and  a 
fierce  fire  of  hatred  flamed  in  American  hearts  that  night. 
The  day  had  been  cold,  with  a  high  wind  blowing ;  but 
the  sun  went  down  serenely,  and  the  tranquil  waters  of 
the  Charles  reflected  the  rosy  clouds  floating  in  the 
western  sky,  and  one  by  one  the  stars  shone  out  and  the 
moon  rose.  Nature  was  peaceful,  but  the  change  had 
come ;  the  first  shots  had  been  fired  and  peace  was  no 
more.  We  lay  upon  our  arms,  anticipating  an  attack, 
since  Mr.  Gage  had  declared  that  Cambridge  should  an 
swer  for  it,  if  its  inhabitants  went  out  in  arms  against  the 
king.  But  Mr.  Gage's  bark,  as  we  came  to  know  later, 
was  far  worse  than  his  bite.  Among  the  Whigs  there 
was  deep  feeling ;  all  were  infuriated  against  the  Minis 
terial  army ;  not  yet  did  men  cast  the  blame  upon  his 
Majesty,  rather  did  they  prefer  to  believe  that  he  had 
listened  to  evil  counsels  and  been  misled  by  distorted 
reports  of  his  subjects  in  the  colonies.  We  had  not 
then  learned  to  call  him  the  "  stubborn  Dutchman,"  as 
we  did  before  the  end.  We  sent  our  own  account  of 
the  sad  conflict  between  the  regulars  and  the  minute- 
men  at  Lexington,  by  a  sure  hand,  to  our  agent  in  Lon 
don,  that  the  true  report  of  our  affairs  might  reach  the 
public  of  Great  Britain,  since  we  could  hope  for  only 
distorted  tales  from  the  royalists  of  Boston. 


94  ^    YANKEE    VOLUNTEER. 

The  first  shot  fired  at  Lexington  had  stirred  the 
country  on  every  side ;"  not  only  did  the  Province  of 
Massachusetts  Bay  respond  nobly  to  the  call  for  men,  but 
every  colony  awoke  to  sympathy.  New  Hampshire, 
Connecticut,  and  Rhode  Island  soon  despatched  their 
reinforcements  to  the  Provincial  Army,  and  General 
Ward  commanded  the  militia  of  Massachusetts.  We 
were  not  entirely  unprepared  for  the  grave  crisis ;  wise 
men  had  foreseen  it  and  supplies  had  been  gathered, 
both  in  ammunition  and  in  food ;  but  it  was  difficult  to 
discipline  and  hold  together  so  large  a  body  of  men, 
called  suddenly  into  service  and  all  anxious  to  set  their 
own  affairs  in  order.  We  were  without  commissions,  too, 
and  scarcely  knew  where  to  look  for  orders.  In  addi 
tion,  a  great  panic  prevailed  at  Charlestown  among  all 
classes,  since  the  British  warships  threatened  it ;  the 
Nautilus  was  at  Boston,  and  the  Somerset  lay  in  the  ferry 
ways  before  Charlestown,  and  we  had  learned  that  the 
town  was  in  danger  of  a  cannonade.  All  the  inhabitants 
were  fleeing  from  it,  and  general  consternation  prevailed. 
On  the  twenty-second  of  April  the  Provincial  Congress  of 
Massachusetts  Bay  assembled  at  Concord,  and  my  father 
came  up  from  Salem  by  the  way  of  Cambridge  to  attend 
the  assembly,  resting  over  night  at  Wetherby's  Tavern  in 
Menotomy,  where  I  went,  leaving  the  camp  that  day  to 
be  with  him,  since  I  needed  his  counsel.  He  and  Dr. 
Warren,  of  the  Committee  of  Safety,  sat  late  talking  of 
the  pressing  needs  of  the  cause  and  the  necessity  of 
organizing  the  minute- men  into  a  regular  army,  and  so 
it  was  that  I  had  but  little  time  with  my  father  wherein 
to  talk  of  our  own  affairs.  Now  that  I  was  to  be  a 
soldier,  much  fell  upon  him  which  I  had  shared  before ; 
but  he  was  full  of  a  deep  enthusiasm  for  the  struggle,  and 
though  he  loved  me,  as  I  loved  him,  I  think  that  he 


WITH  THE  MINUTE-MEN.  95 

regarded  me,  much  as  Abraham  regarded  Isaac,  as  a 
sacrifice.  He  would  rather,  I  knew,  have  seen  me  fall  at 
the  front  of  the  battle  than  to  have  found  me  wavering 
in  my  allegiance  to  my  country.  Yet  was  he  full  of 
tenderness  for  my  shortcomings :  it  was  he  who  always 
gathered  any  tidings  of  Joyce  that  might  affect  my  hap 
piness.  I  think  that  he  never  believed  that  she  had 
changed ;  to  him  she  was  ever  the  blue-eyed  little  girl 
that  he  had  known  from  infancy. 

After  Dr.  Warren  left  us,  we  walked  out  together  and 
viewed  the  lines  of  our  troops.  The  army  lay  extended 
from  Dorchester  to  Charlestown,  in  a  semicircle,  and  my 
father  shook  his  head  at  the  long  stretch  which  could  be 
so  poorly  guarded,  especially  by  an  unorganized  force. 
The  lines  that  we  visited  were  composed  of  the  few  com 
panies  lying  in  the  Charlestown  road  toward  Menotomy, 
and  a  few  more  lay  over  at  Phipps'  Farm.  The  day 
before,  Colonel  William  Prescott  had  been  in  command 
here  but  had  been  since  ordered  to  march  his  regiment 
to  Roxbury  to  join  General  Thomas.  We  had  the 
veterans  of  the  French  wars  with  us,  General  Israel  Put 
nam  and  General  Stark,  and  others  besides,  but  there 
was  a  great  need  of  more  commissioned  officers  and 
those  on  duty  were  sorely  overworked. 

"  A  great  cause  and  a  just  one,"  my  father  said  as  we 
walked  back  slowly  to  our  lodgings  ;  "  yet  there  is  like  to 
be  many  a  defeat,  I  fear,  ere  these  raw  recruits  are 
seasoned  to  service,  and  Mr.  Gage  has  a  disciplined  force 
at  his  command." 

"  Yet  they  fled  before  the  patriots  but  yesterday,"  I 
said  cheerfully. 

"True,"  he  replied  quietly,  "and  great  has  been  the 
result  in  encouraging  these  new  soldiers;  but  the  first 
flush  of  war  is  not  the  long  and  dreary  duty  and  the 


96  A    YANKEE    VOLUNTEER. 

sharp  conflict  under  fire.  I  do  not  doubt  the  courage 
or  the  loyalty  of  these  my  countrymen,  but  here  is  sore 
need  for  a  commander-in-chief  who  shall  be  brave  enough 
and  wise  enough  to  lead  this  army  to  a  glorious  victory." 

"  I  pity  most  the  inhabitants  of  Boston,"  I  said  thought 
fully  ;  "  upon  them  will  fall  the  heaviest  vengeance  of 
the  governor,  and  they  are  suffering  in  so  many  ways. 
Already  the  Tories  there  have  enlisted  in  the  royal  ser 
vice,  and  they  are,  I  hear,  more  bitter  against  their  pa 
triotic  fellow  townsmen  than  the  British  themselves." 

"  It  is  ever  so,"  my  father  remarked,  "  a  civil  war  is 
the  most  bitter.  When  brother  rises  against  brother, 
there  is  no  mercy  shown  on  either  side.  We  must 
even  endeavor  to  devise"  some  way  to  relieve  the  poor 
folk  in  the  town." 

"  The  Tories  are  anxious  too,  I  hear,  to  get  into 
Boston,  from  the  country,"  I  went  on,  "since  their 
situation  is  scarcely  more  happy  amongst  us  than  that 
of  the  patriots  in  Boston." 

My  father  looked  at  me  and  smiled. 

"  You  have  heard,  then,"  he  said  quietly,  "  that  Sir 
Anthony  Talbot  is  desirous  of  coming  from  Marblehead 
with  his  household  and  effects?  He  would  even  shake 
the  dust  of  Essex  County  off  his  feet.  Dick,  I  heard,  was 
with  Lord  Percy  yesterday." 

"  I  heard  it  too,"  I  replied  gravely, "  and  with  sorrow, 
yet  I  could  expect  no  less ;  and  as  for  Sir  Anthony,  he  is 
breathing  blood  and  fire ;  "  and  I  told  him  briefly  of  the 
scene  at  Marblehead. 

"  Sir  Anthony  to  the  life,"  my  father  responded,  smil 
ing  ;  "  he,  at  least,  has  the  virtue  of  a  deep  devotion  to 
his  own  convictions.  You  went  on  a  serious  errand  that 
day,"  he  added  suddenly,  and  I  detected  the  amusement 
in  his  voice ;  "  of  course,  you  saw  nothing  of  Joyce  ?  " 


WITH  THE  MINUTE-MEN.  97 

Now,  I  knew  my  father  loved  well  to  torment  me,  and 
I  winced  a  little  at  his  tone,  but  we  were  bound  by  too 
close" ties  of  sympathy  for  the  shadow  of  resentment,  and 
I  bore  his  question  with  patience. 

"  Nay,"  I  said  calmly,  "  I  saw  Miss  Talbot,  and  spoke 
with  her." 

"And  the  lovers'  quarrel  is  so  ended?"  asked  my 
father,  laughing  softly. 

"  Not  so,  sir,"  I  answered  gravely ;  "  she  will  none  of 
me." 

There  was  a  pause,  and  I  knew  that  he  was  perplexed  ; 
presently  he  threw  his  arm  about  my  shoulders  and 
walked  with  me  so,  leaning  a  little  on  me,  and  I  knew 
his  heart,  tender  as  a  woman's,  felt  my  loss  and  sor 
rowed  for  his  jest.  So  it  was  with  us  ever ;  the  bond 
between  us  was  too  close  for  any  need  of  words ;  sym 
pathy  of  the  soul  has  its  own  language,  and  they  who  love 
best  speak  the  least ;  a  touch,  a  glance,  and  all  is  said. 
Yet  still  he  did  not  believe  that  the  breach  might  be 
final,  for  when  we  had  reached  the  tavern  and  were 
parting  for  the  night,  he  pressed  my  hand  and  smiled 
upon  me,  his  brown  eyes  full  of  feeling  and  great 
kindness. 

"  Youth  takes  its  troubles  too  seriously,"  he  said  in 
his  pleasant,  gentle  way;  "the  little  maid  has  a  way 
ward  spirit,  but  her  heart  was  ever  true  as  steel." 

And  I  was  half  shamed  that  he  had  so  great  faith  in 
her,  while  I  was  full  of  doubt  and  jealousy.  That  night, 
too,  I  remembered  a  little  song  that  I  had  heard  her 
sing.  It  was  on  one  bright  day,  in  the  spring-time, 
when  we  walked  together  on  the  moors  and  all  the 
ground  was  like  a  snow-flecked  field  with  the  bright- 
eyed  daisies,  the  air  sweet  with  new-mown  hay,  while 
the  sunshine  made  her  eyes  sparkle  with  the  blue  of  the 

7 


98  A    YANKEE    VOLUNTEER. 

skies  above  us.  Walking  before  me  in  the  way,  she  sang 
in  her  sweet  voice,  clear  as  any  bird's,  a  little  old  song  of 
Shakespeare's,  to  a  tune  of  her  own  making,  new  and 
tender  from  her  rosy  lips,  and  dear  because  she  sang  it 
to  me,  though  in  a  mood  rather  to  provoke  than  please 
me.  That  night,  so  near  the  army,  outside  of  a  be 
leaguered  city,  the  words  came  back  to  me  and  I 
heard  her  voice  singing,  — 

M  Doubt  thou  the  stars  are  fire  ; 

Doubt  that  the  sun  doth  move ; 
Doubt  truth  to  be  a  liar ; 
But  never  doubt  I  love." 


CHAPTER  XIV. 

AT  THE   SIGN   OF  THE   SUN. 

THE  state  of  Boston  grew  daily,  indeed  hourly,  more 
unhappy ;  the  Tories  stirring  up  the  wrath  of  the  British, 
for,  as  my  father  had  said,  our  bitterest  foes  were  of  our 
kindred  and  acquaintance.  General  Gage  was  inclined 
more  to  mercy  and  to  liberality  toward  the  Yankees  than 
their  own  countrymen.  Beleaguered  as  he  was  with  our 
army,  the  governor  no  doubt  feared  an  attack  from  with 
in  the  town  also,  and  was  the  more  anxious  to  be  rid, 
on  any  terms,  of  the  Whigs ;  thus  it  was  the  Tories  only 
who  made  the  conditions  hard  at  the  last.  On  Sunday, 
the  third  day  from  the  battle  of  Lexington,  the  select 
men  of  Boston  and  the  governor  came  to  an  agreement, 
after  much  argument.  The  inhabitants  of  the  distressed 
town  were  to  store  their  arms  at  Faneuil  Hall,  under  the 
charge  of  the  selectmen,  and  all  such  persons  desiring  to 
leave,  might  do  so,  having  only  to  comply  with  the  regu 
lations  and  obtain  a  passport.  The  patriots  were,  at  first, 
allowed  to  take  all  their  effects,  though  at  the  last  this 
was  denied  or  only  partly  permitted,  but  at  no  time 
were  any  arms  or  ammunition  allowed  to  pass,  nor  could 
any  one  go  out  of  Boston  save  between  sunrise  and  sun 
set.  So  great  was  the  trepidation,  so  general  the  de 
votion  to  our  cause,  that  thousands  applied  at  once  for 
passes,  and  the  roads  from  the  town  were  thronged  with 
fugitives  and  their  household  goods  and  stores.  It  was 
this  general  flight  which  in  the  end  alarmed  the  Tories 


IOO  A    YANKEE    VOLUNTEER. 

• 

and  the  British,  causing  that  breach  of  faith  which  cast 
such  odium  upon  the  latter.  At  the  first  the  agree 
ment  was  executed  in  full,  and  the  Congress  of  Massa 
chusetts  Bay  responded  with  a  like  measure  in  favor  of 
the  Tories  scattered  in  the  province.  Officers  were 
stationed  at  Mr.  Greaton's  house  at  Roxbury,  and  at  the 
Sign  of  the  Sun  on  Charlestown  Neck  to  furnish  permits 
to  Tories  passing  through  our  lines  to  Boston. 

Having  been  commissioned  a  lieutenant  in  the  Essex 
regiment,  I  was  one  of  those  chosen  to  dispense  the 
passes  and  examine  all  persons  asking  for  them ;  my 
station  being  at  the  Sign  of  the  Sun.  Ephraim  was  in 
almost  constant  attendance  upon  me,  more  I  think  from 
habit  than  any  recognition  of  my  military  authority,  for 
he  had  no  conception  of  the  obedience  and  respect  due 
to  his  superiors;  obeying  rather  from  inclination  and 
when  he  saw  the  necessity  for  it  than  because  it  was 
a  matter  of  discipline.  That  old  green  coat  and  the 
old  black  beaver  upon  the  back  of  his  red  head  were 
characteristic  of  his  indifference,  yet  he  had  a  natural 
genius  for  military  matters,  and  was  a  man  of  intrepid 
courage,  deliberate  and  cool.  The  appearance  of  our 
army  was  happily  no  indication  of  its  worth ;  a  strange 
aspect  we  presented,  and  it  was  not  marvellous  that  the 
Ministerial  troops  looked  upon  us  as  the  rabble  of  the 
peasantry.  Men  came  fresh  from  the  plow  or  from  the 
helm  of  their  fishing-smacks,  and  carried  old  fowling- 
pieces,  scythes,  pitchforks,  any  weapon  that  was  at  hand. 
Yet  there  were  veterans  of  the  French  wars  ;  many  a 
hero  wore  a  coat  as  old  and  faded  as  Ephraitn's,  serving 
as  a  butt  for  the  jokes  of  the  regulars,  until  they  learned, 
by  bitter  experience,  to  respect  the  determination  of 
these  simple  patriots.  It  was  the  cause  of  the  people  ; 
the  people  came  to  do  battle  for  it,  and  in  this  was  its 


AT  THE  SIGN  OF  THE  SUN.  IOI 

only  strength.  At  this  time  reinforcements  came  rapidly, 
and  with  them  great  confusion ;  each  colony  sent  officers, 
and  it  was  difficult  to  find  either  head  or  heart  to  the 
great  body,  and  there  were  endless  disputes  and  quarrels. 
Much  trouble  ensued,  too,  in  provisioning  the  troops; 
Mr.  Commissary  Pigeon  had  charge  of  the  supplies  for 
Massachusetts  Bay  and  New  Hampshire,  but  there  was 
confusion  in  regard  to  the  other  colonies.  It  was  a  sad 
medley,  but  happily  there  was  a  common  cause ;  that 
alone  held  the  strange  army,  or  rabble  —  for  it  was 
scarcely  more  —  together.  General  Ward  was  recog 
nized  as  the  commander-in-chief,  and  was  obeyed  with 
some  courtesy,  but  the  want  of  organization  was  destined 
to  be  our  besetting  sin  and  misfortune.  We  had  already, 
by  the  first  of  May,  begun  to  build  fortifications,  although 
we  had  no  expectation  that  Mr.  Gage  would  sally  out  of 
his  stronghold.  If  he  had  done  so,  he  would  have  met 
a  stern  reception ;  the  patriots  were  but  too  eager  to 
avenge  the  men  who  died  at  Lexington. 

Meanwhile  the  Tories  moved  into  Boston  with  as 
great  an  eagerness  as  the  Whigs  quitted  it,  and  we  were 
busily  employed  giving  out  the  passes  and  watching  the 
parties  going  into  the  town  and  receiving  those  coming 
out.  One  bright  day  in  May,  I  was,  as  usual,  stationed 
at  the  Sign  of  the  Sun,  having  been  all  the  morning 
busily  engaged  in  directing  various  matters  under  my 
charge.  Toward  noon  there  was  a  pause  in  the  bustle, 
and  I  stood  without  the  tavern  watching  a  party  of 
travellers  whom  we  had  just  dispatched  to  the  town. 
The  air  was  balmy,  and  the  waters  of  the  Mystic  rippled 
gently ;  the  golden  dandelions  turned  bright  faces  up 
ward  from  the  sward,  and  in  the  fields  was  the  white 
bloom  of  the  elder-flowers.  A  day  to  touch  the  heart 
with  joy,  yet  at  that  moment  pick  and  spade  were 


102  A    YANKEE    VOLUNTEER. 

working  upon  the  fortifications,  and,  way  off,  the  drum 
was  beating  the  call  to  arms  in  all  the  colonies. 

The  midday  hour  had  brought  some  idlers  about  the 
tavern  door,  simple  rustics,  summoned  from  the  plow  to 
bear  the  brunt  of  war ;  goodly  men  to  look  upon,  sinewy 
and  tall,  with  sun-bronzed  faces,  and  with  the  natural 
upright  bearing  of  the  soldier,  yet  with  no  token  of 
their  new  employment.  Clad  in  coats  of  many  colors, 
some  sound  and  whole,  some  already  tattered,  with  weap 
ons  of  every  size  and  pattern,  their  eyes  had  that 
bright  level  glance  that  is  at  once  cheerful  and  reassur 
ing.  In  the  midst  of  these,  seated  upon  the  doorstep 
of  the  tavern,  was  Ephraim,  his  green  coat  seeming 
more  vivid  with  the  spring  tints  for  a  background,  and 
his  old  musket  lying  across  his  knees.  His  head  rested 
against  the  wall,  and  his  hat  lay  on  the  step  beside  him ; 
he  was  singing  gayly  a  new  patriot  song,  but  lately  pub 
lished  in  the  "  Essex  Gazette."  His  voice  was  good,  if  a 
trifle  thin  and  high,  and  the  rustics  listened  with  admira 
tion  and  applause  to  the  warlike  strains,  one  or  two 
among  them  joining  in  the  closing  lines  of  every  verse,  — 
a  not  unpleasing  chorus.  The  full,  hearty  notes  rang 
with  an  echo  in  the  stillness  of  noontide,  and  one  by  one 
the  inmates  of  the  house  and  the  innkeeper  came  to 
the  door  and  windows  to  listen. 

While  they  sang,  I  looked  beyond  them,  down  the 
road  toward  Penny  Ferry,  and  saw,  slowly  approaching, 
two  carriages,  each  drawn  by  four  stout  horses,  and  be 
hind  them  a  country  wain ;  all  three  being  well  laden  with 
boxes  and  other  gear,  showing  that  some  household  was 
broken  up,  and  a  part  of  its  effects  coming  to  town.  I 
stood  and  waited,  knowing  that  here  were  Tories, 
and  that  my  services  would  soon  be  needed.  Sang 
Ephraim,  — 


AT  THE  SIGtf  OF  THE  SUN.  103 

ft '  Our  Charter-Rights  we  claim, 
Granted  in  ancient  times, 
Since  our  Forefathers  came 
First  to  these  western  climes: 
Nor  will  their  sons  degenerate, 
They  freedom  love  —  oppression  hate  : 

" '  If  Gage  should  strike  the  blow, 
We  must  for  Freedom  fight, 
Undaunted  courage  show, 
While  we  defend  our  right ; 
In  spite  of  the  oppressive  band 
Maintain  the  freedom  of  the  Land.'"1 

As  the  last  note  of  Minot's  song  fell  on  our  ears,  the 
foremost  of  the  vehicles  that  I  had  seen  approaching 
drew  up  before  the  Sign  of  the  Sun.  I  had  recognized 
the  liveries  at  the  first  glance,  and  was  therefore  not 
surprised  when  Sir  Anthony's  flushed  face  appeared  at 
the  window.  But  he  had  no  eyes  for  me ;  having  had 
the  benefit  of  Ephraim's  music,  he  shook  his  cane  at  him. 

"  Maintain  fiddlestick  !  "  shouted  this  irrepressible 
old  Tory,  "  it  is  such  vagabonds  as  you  who  plunge  the 
country  into  rabble  rule.  Go  back  to  your  plow,  fellow, 
you  are  not  fit  to  face  a  drummer-boy  in  the  king's  army." 

There  was  a  murmur  of  surprise  and  anger  from  the 
group  at  the  tavern  door,  but  Ephraim  was  unruffled, 
merely  gazing  calmly  at  his  adversary. 

"  Nay,"  he  said  mildly,  "  the  redcoats  are  out  of 
breath  from  running ;  they  can't  fight  us  yet." 

The  bystanders  encouraged  this  sally,  and  Sir  Anthony 
fumed,  while  Lady  Talbot,  who  sat  with  him,  tried  to 
soothe  him.  He  was  suffering  with  gout  once  more,  and 
had  his  foot  upon  the  seat  before  him ;  it  may  be  that 
the  pain  increased  his  wrath.  His  wife,  a  long-suffer- 

1  Essex  Gazette,  Oct.  25,  1774. 


104  A    YANKEE    VOLUNTEER. 

ing  and  gentle  woman,  laid  a  restraining  hand  upon  his 
arm,  but  he  was  deaf  to  her  entreaties. 

"  A  swarm  of  pestilential  peasants,"  we  heard  him 
say  to  her ;  "  do  you  think  that  I  will  let  them  insult 
me?  Damn  it,  madam,  no  !  " 

Then  he  turned  once  more  to  the  rustics. 

"  Ye  are  all  fools  or  knaves,"  he  said  with  passion, 
"  and  are  but  sowing  as  ye  shall  reap  !  What  does  this 
petty  resistance  accomplish  against  the  majesty  of  the 
British  government?  You  will  be  crushed  like  mud- 
wasps  at  the  last ;  and  those  who  counsel  this  madness* 
are  the  more  wicked,  since  they  know  that  they  but 
lead  you  to  destruction.  Take  heed,  ere  it  be  too 
late  ! " 

This  harangue  was  received  with  laughter,  and 
Ephraim  as  before  was  spokesman. 

"  Ask  Lord  Percy  how  the  mud-wasps  sting,"  he 
said  with  a  drawl  in  his  voice ;  "  it  may  be  a  better 
comparison  than  you  thought  it.  I  would  not  go  to 
Boston,  either,"  he  added  thoughtfully,  "  if  I  were  you, 
for  it  will  presently  be  an  unpleasant  abiding-place,  — 
too  hot  for  comfort.  Yet  what  say  you,  comrades? 
Perhaps  it  will  be  well  for  the  Tories  to  get  used  to 
hot  places.  I  mean  nothing  personal,  old  gentleman," 
he  added  mildly ;  "  I  was  ever  a  forgiving  disposition, 
from  a  child." 

"  You  are  an  insolent  dog,"  replied  Sir  Anthony, 
staring  at  him  in  impotent  fury. 

It  was  then  that  I  interfered ;  at  their  arrival  I  had 
at  once  busied  myself  in  making  out  their  passports, 
knowing  that  there  would  soon  be  a  collision,  since 
Sir  Anthony  could  never  hold  his  tongue.  I  proceeded 
now  with  my  associate,  also  an  officer,  to  give  the  party 
passes,  and  inspect  their  goods  and  chattels.  At  the 


AT  THE  SIGN  OF  THE  SUN.  10$ 

sight  of  me,  my  old  friend  broke  out  once  more  with 
furious  reproaches,  which  I  heeded  not,  pretending  that 
I  did  not  know  that  he  addressed  me.  I  spared  him, 
not  only  for  his  own  sake,  but  because  I  saw  the  pained 
and  frightened  face  of  Lady  Talbot.  I  knew,  too,  that 
there  were  other  ears  to  listen  to  my  words,  and  so 
commanded  my  temper.  From  the  first,  I  had  been 
aware  that  Joyce  sat  in  the  second  carriage  with  her 
woman,  and  only  my  pride  kept  me  from  approaching 
it  and  forbade  a  glance  in  that  direction,  but  I  felt  her 
^yes  upon  me,  and  knew  that  she  saw  me  armed  and 
commissioned  in  the  cause  that  she  despised.  Yet 
when  it  fell  out  to  be  my  portion  to  examine  the  vehi 
cles  in  turn,  that  we  might  know  who  passed  into  the 
town  upon  our  permits,  I  went  gravely  to  discharge  my 
duty.  Coming  to  the  carriage  door,  she  and  I  looked 
each  other  in  the  face  once  more.  How  defiant,  too, 
was  the  glance  she  gave  me  !  She  sat  there,  erect  and 
proud,  her  white  kerchief  folded  on  her  bosom,  and 
her  frock  of  the  soft  tint  of  a  dove's  wing ;  a  pink  rose 
nestled  under  the  brim  of  her  bonnet,  and  the  broad 
pink  ribbons  were  tied  into  a  bow  beneath  her  little 
chin.  Her  cheeks  were  flushed  with  anger,  as  I  thought, 
and  her  lips  were  firmly  closed.  I  greeted  her  with  for 
mal  courtesy,  she  responding  with  as  grand  an  air  as  any 
queen.  Standing  so  before  her,  with  her  scornful  glance 
upon  me,  I  blushed  and  stammered  like  a  foolish  boy. 

"  I  trust  that  you  are  well,  Miss  Talbot,"  I  said,  be 
cause  all  other  words  failed  me  at  the  moment. 

"  Nay,"  she  replied,  "  it  makes  me  ill  to  see  an  old 
friend  and  playfellow  in  so  evil  a  business." 

At  this,  my  pride  took  fire.  "  I  but  do  my  duty," 
I  exclaimed,  "and  it  is  my  sorrow  that  we  are  no 
longer  of  one  mind." 


106  A    YANKEE    VOLUNTEER. 

" '  We  ! '  "  she  cried  haughtily.  "  You  mistake,  sir, 
the  limit  of  old  acquaintance.  Once,  indeed,  you  and  I 
thought  alike,  but  now  —  "  She  paused  and  I  saw  her 
lips  quiver,  and  my  heart  relented.  "  Now,"  she  went 
on,  "  we  may  be  friends  no  longer,  since  you  choose  so 
evil,  so  wicked  a  cause,  against  your  king  and  mine." 

"  Against  his  ministers,"  I  interrupted  eagerly  ;  "  the 
king  is  sacred  yet,  but  we  will  no  longer  bear  the  op 
pression  of  his  ministers.  Believe  me,  Joyce,  you  are 
misinformed;  we  are  true  subjects  of  the  crown,  but 
freemen  will  not  abide  such  laws  as  they  have  made ; 
we  could  not,  and  be  worthy  of  our  blood.  The  king 
must  hear  our  righteous  cause." 

"  And  is  it  thus,"  she  said,  pointing  to  my  sword, 
"  that  you  would  speak  to  him  ?  " 

"  We  must  even  defend  our  chartered  liberties  with 
our  blood,"  I  replied  warmly ;  "  but  we  are  loyal 
men." 

"  Nay,  sir,"  she  said  coldly,  "  you  are  a  rebel,  and 
no  less ! " 

I  drew  back  sharply ;  this  was  too  much,  and  I  saluted 
her  gravely  and  turned  away.  Sir  Anthony  was  still 
storming,  and  my  fellow  officer  hastened  to  despatch 
them,  to  be  rid  of  the  old  Tory's  furious  tongue.  I  had 
discharged  my  duty,  and  let  them  start  upon  their  way, 
speaking  no  more  to  my  sweetheart,  trying  indeed  to 
look  another  way ;  yet  as  the  carriage  passed  before  the 
tavern  door,  she  turned  her  head  and  our  eyes  met 
again.  Then  it  was  that  I  saw  that  hers  were  dim  with 
tears,  and  she  made  a  sudden  faint-hearted  gesture, 
as  though  she  waved  her  hand  in  token  of  farewell. 

I  stood  there  with  a  bitter  heart ;  verily  she  had  her 
revenge,  since  I  found  little  happiness  in  the  state  of 
being  a  rebel,  as  it  pleased  her  to  call  me. 


CHAPTER  XV. 

MY    RIVAL. 

A  SEASON  of  suspense  ensued  after  Lexington;  both 
sides  anticipated  an  attack,  yet  was  neither  strong  enough 
to  take  the  initiative.  Our  army  was  soon  greatly  deci 
mated  ;  the  minute- men,  who  came  at  first  so  readily, 
were  not  regularly  enlisted,  and  expected  to  serve  but 
a  few  weeks  and  then  return  to  their  own  firesides. 
Under  these  conditions  the  force  at  Roxbury  became 
so  small  that  General  Thomas  marched  his  seven  hun 
dred  men  around  and  around  the  hill  in  sight  of  Boston, 
to  deceive  the  enemy  with  a  show  of  strength,  and  we 
resorted  to  many  like  expedients.  Yet,  surrounded  as 
he  was  with  so  weak  a  foe,  Mr.  Gage  remained  in  his 
stronghold,  stirring  not  a  finger,  when  one  good  blow 
would  have  told  so  bitterly  against  us.  Verily,  Provi 
dence  was  with  us,  and  thus  the  young  country  prevailed 
against  its  enemies,  although  those  years  of  blood  and 
trial  were  as  the  journey  through  the  Wilderness.  Great 
was  the  contrast  between  the  two  armies.  The  patriots 
lay  outside  of  Boston,  poorly  armed  and  for  the  most 
part  poorly  clad ;  watching  with  eternal  vigilance  to 
defend  their  homes  from  the  cruel  depredations  of  the 
Ministerial  troops.  So  few  and  scattered  were  the  com 
manders  that  some  of  them  scarcely  slept,  and  when 
they  snatched  a  moment,  rested  on  their  arms.  For 
my  own  part,  many  days  and  nights  I  could  not  shift 


108  A    YANKEE    VOLUNTEER. 

my  clothes  or  sleep,  but  went  my  rounds  at  all  hours, 
and  had  eight  or  nine  miles  to  traverse  each  time,  suf 
fering  much  from  weariness  of  body  and  sadness  of 
heart,  since  all  my  thoughts  were  in  Boston,  where  there 
was  much  gayety  and  indifference.  The  Ministerial 
army,  being  well  and  warmly  housed,  and  likely  to  be 
soon  reinforced  by  such  numbers  as  would  make  them 
in  their  own  eyes  invincible,  were  light  of  heart,  and 
Mr.  Gage  set  the  example  by  entertainments  at  Province 
House.  Masks  and  dances  were  of  constant  occurrence, 
and  the  British  began  to  insult  the  more  quiet  of  the 
inhabitants  by  open  disregard  of  their  sober  and  reli 
gious  customs ;  there  was  much  license  among  the  offi 
cers,  many  of  whom  were  notorious  for  loose  living, 
gamblers  and  drunkards,  which  was  an  offence  to  the 
Puritan  spirit  of  the  people,  though  the  worst  was  yet 
to  come  with  General  Burgoyne,  who  turned  the  Old 
South  Meeting-house  into  a  riding-school  and  carried 
his  mistress  with  him  upon  that  campaign  which  ended 
in  the  surrender  of  his  army  to  Gates.  Before  Bur 
goyne  and  Mr.  Howe  arrived,  with  General  Clinton, 
some  hot  skirmishes  took  place,  with  no  great  loss  on 
either  side,  and  favorable  to  the  Americans,  which  gave 
us  sorely  needed  encouragement,  but  there  was  no 
serious  engagement.  Our  small  victories,  however,  gave 
us  a  number  of  British  captives,  and  an  exchange  of 
prisoners  was  arranged,  which  took  place  on  the  sixth 
of  June  at  Charlestown.  There  it  was  that  I  met  Dick 
Talbot  again,  on  different  terms  from  those  of  our  last 
interview.  Now  we  were  openly  arrayed  on  opposite 
sides,  and  he,  I  think,  was  half  ashamed  of  his  boyish 
violence,  and  met  me  with  a  better  grace,  although  he 
found  opportunity  enough  to  torment  me  to  his  satisfac 
tion  —  But  I  must  even  tell  the  story  as  it  happened. 


MY  RIVAL.  109 

It  was  noon  when  the  Americans  set  out  for  Charles- 
town  with  some  show  of  military  force.  Dr.  Warren 
and  General  Putnam  drove  in  a  phaeton,  while  several 
other  officers  rode  on  horseback,  and  I  was  with  these, 
being  then  detailed  for  special  duties  under  Putnam. 
We  were  escorted  by  the  Wethersfield  regiment,  and 
marching  slowly  through  Charlestown  halted  at  the  ferry 
about  one  o'clock.  The  militia  presented  an  unusually 
fine  appearance,  and  acted  with  discipline  and  precision, 
so  that  we  had  no  cause  to  be  ashamed  of  our  organi 
zation.  The  man-of-war,  the  Lively,  lay  in  the  ferry 
ways,  and  at  a  given  signal  her  boat  was  lowered,  com 
ing  off  with  Major  Moncrief  and  a  party  of  royal  officers, 
among  whom  I  recognized  both  Dick  Talbot  and  Mr. 
Beresford.  Their  uniforms  were  of  the  freshest  scarlet, 
and  the  sunlight  sparkled  on  gold  braid  and  burnished 
sword-hilts,  while  their  heads  were  powdered,  and  their 
whole  appearance  and  bearing  that  of  dandies  rather 
than  rugged  soldiers.  It  was  said  that  General  Bur- 
goyne  was  severe  in  his  requirements,  and  that  no  pri 
vate  in  his  army  could  neglect  his  personal  equipment ; 
that  he  made  non-commissioned  officers  and  soldiers 
crop  their  hair  alike  upon  their  foreheads.  We  Yankees, 
who  were  so  poor  in  clothing  and  in  arms,  looked  with 
contempt  upon  these  regulations,  which  seemed  rather 
for  the  court  than  for  the  camp.  The  provincial  offi 
cers,  upon  that  day,  were  plainly  garbed,  with  no  in 
signia  of  rank,  so  the  contrast  was  the  sharper  between 
the  two  parties.  Major  Moncrief  and  General  Putnam 
were  old  friends,  and  their  greeting  was  so  affectionate 
and  cordial  that  it  shamed  the  others  from  any  coldness ; 
and  as  I  met  Dick  without  sign  of  offence,  he  was  con 
strained  to  return  my  greeting  with  courtesy.  His  hand 
some  boyish  face  was  flushed  with  embarrassment,  but 


1 10  A    YANKEE    VOLUNTEER. 

I  forgave  him  all  his  faults  for  the  sake  of  the  likeness 
that  he  bore  to  Joyce,  and  knowing,  too,  that  he  had  but 
inherited  his  birthright  in  the  fiery,  overbearing  temper 
of  the  Talbots.  That  which  most  offended  me  was  the 
evident  intimacy  and  affection  which  he  bestowed  upon 
Beresford,  and  I  took  this  opportunity  to  measure  my 
rival.  That  he  was  a  man  likely  to  find  favor  in  a 
woman's  eyes,  I  could  not  deny;  he  was  made  for  a 
soldier,  and  bore  himself  with  grace  and  a  conscious  air 
of  his  own  merits.  He  was  handsome,  too,  with  the 
clear  white  skin  of  the  English;  his  eyes  were  blue, 
while  mine  were  brown ;  my  hair  also  was  a  bright 
shade  of  brown  or  chestnut,  while  his  was  flaxen  as  a 
child's  where  a  lock  escaped  the  powdering;  and  he 
wore  his  uniform  with  a  jaunty  air.  He  was  a  trifle 
taller  than  I,  and  more  easy,  for  I  was  slow  and  delib 
erate  both  in  movement  and  in  speech,  and  often  left 
that  which  was  nearest  my  heart  unspoken  because  of 
my  hesitation.  He  was  the  man  to  win  the  graces  of 
the  other  sex,  and  I  had  heard  it  rumored  that  he  was 
but  too  often  a  successful  suitor ;  that  he  danced  well, 
sang  well,  and  wrote  verses,  an  accomplishment  then 
much  esteemed  by  the  young  gallants.  I  found  little 
comfort  therefore  in  the  observation  of  my  rival,  and  it 
ruffled  my  temper  to  see  him  walk  away  with  his  arm 
linked  in  Dick's,  affectionately  intimate. 

The  whole  party  adjourned  to  the  house  of  Dr. 
Foster,  a  Whig,  where  an  entertainment  had  been  pro 
vided  for  the  royalists,  and  we  ate  and  drank  together 
with  much  amiability  and  with  no  suspicion  of  ill-feeling. 
The  cordiality  of  the  two  parties  was  not  even  ruffled  by 
the  formalities  of  the  exchange  of  prisoners  which  pres 
ently  ensued ;  it  was  difficult  to  realize  that  these  men 
were  likely  soon  to  meet,  sword  in  hand,  on  the  field  of 


RIVAL.  1 1 1 

battle.  It  is  such  scenes  as  these  that  are  perplexing  to 
the  raw  recruit  who  cannot  comprehend  the  courtesies 
of  civilized  warfare.  Our  royalist  prisoners,  too,  ac 
knowledged  warmly  the  good  treatment  that  they  had 
received,  and  some  of  those  who  were  wounded  and  had 
been  kindly  nursed  even  shed  tears  of  gratitude ;  but  I 
observed  that  the  patriots  whom  the  British  surrendered 
in  return  had  no  such  acknowledgments  to  make. 
Some  of  these  were  prisoners  of  war,  taken  at  Lexington 
and  elsewhere  on  that  day,  and  others  were  Boston 
Whigs  who  had  offended  by  too  warm  an  affection  for 
their  country's  cause.  The  formalities  of  the  exchange 
and  the  entertainment  detained  us  several  hours,  so  that 
it  was  nearly  six  o'clock  in  the  evening  when  we  pro 
ceeded  once  more  to  the  ferry  where  the  barge  from  the 
Lively  was  waiting  for  the  royalists.  In  the  ferry-ways 
lay  the  grim  vessels,  the  Somerset  and  the  Lively,  and 
the  batteries  across  the  channel  bristled  with  cannon, 
while  behind  us,  in  Charlestown  and  beyond,  were  our 
lines,  with  pickets  'posted  at  every  outlet  of  the  town. 
The  "piping  time  of  peace"  was  no  more,  and  now 
the  bugle  sounded  in  the  stillness,  its  shrill  notes  waking 
an  echo  across  the  waters. 

It  was  when  we  stood  beside  the  barge  of  the  Lively, 
where  our  superior  officers  parted  with  good  will  and 
kindness,  that  I  forced  my  reluctant  tongue  to  obey  me 
and  ask  Dick  if  Joyce  was  well  and  happy.  Beresford 
had  already  left  us,  and  stood  waiting  at  the  boat,  and 
at  my  question  I  saw  a  flash  of  malicious  enjoyment  in 
young  Talbot's  eyes  and  half  regretted  my  inquiry. 

"  Ay,"  he  said,  smiling,  "  my  sister  is  both  well  and 
happy,  as  she  should  be,  in  the  midst  of  loyal  people  and 
protected  by  the  royal  troops.  Marblehead  had  become 
a  nest  of  pirates  and  was  no  place  for  them,  especially 


112  A    YANKEE    VOLUNTEER. 

my  father,  since  he  cannot  endure  with  patience  this 
new  heresy." 

"  Happily  I  have  learned  to  bear  with  toleration  the 
abuse  of  our  cause,"  I  replied  dryly,  "  or  you  and  I 
might  once  more  quarrel  over  words.  I  fear  me,  how 
ever,  that  the  good  town  yonder  may  presently  be  no 
very  comfortable  abiding-place,  but  let  your  mother  and 
your  sister  bear  in  mind  that  they  have  an  old  acquaint 
ance  across  the  ferry,  and  shall  lack  no  friendship." 

His  lip  curled  scornfully,  and  he  treated  my  reply 
with  the  disdain  that  the  royalist  felt  for  our  rustic 
array. 

"  I  trust  that  the  king's  soldiers  may  be  clever  enough 
to  vanquish  pitchforks,  friend  Allen,"  he  retorted, 
laughing  lightly.  "  Your  rustics  cannot  always  find  a 
stone  wall  to  fight  behind,  and  I  do  not  anticipate  any 
great  battle  when  his  Majesty's  forces  are  in  motion. 
The  capture  of  a  horse  or  a  cow  elates  you  too  much." 

"Nay,"  I  said  calmly,  "we  are  content  to  bide  our 
time  with  patience ;  a  righteous  caus'e  must  at  the  last 
prevail." 

"  You  were  ever  pious,  Allen,"  Dick  replied-  gayly, 
"  but  your  long-faced  Yankees  know  better  how  to 
pray  than  to  fight.  But  fare  ye  well  until  we  meet 
again." 

Major  Moncrief  had  parted  with  General  Putnam,  and 
we  had  but  a  moment  left  for  speech. 

"  Remember  me  to  your  sister,"  I  said  quietly,  look 
ing  Talbot  gravely  in  the  eye. 

"  I  will  bear  your  message,"  he  rejoined  with  a 
defiant  glance,  "but  Joyce  has  but  little  patience  with 
you  rebels.  Yonder  is  my  brother-in-law  which  is  to 
be,"  he  added,  smiling,  as  he  indicated  Beresford,  who 
was  already  in  the  barge. 


My  RIVAL.  1 1 3 

'•'This  is  news  to  me,"  I  said  haughtily,  "since  Miss 
Talbot  herself  denied  the  rumor  to  me." 

"  Nevertheless,  you  will  presently  see  that  it  is  true," 
he  answered  sharply,  and  left  me  with  a  gesture  of 
farewell,  having  to  leap  into  the  boat,  which  was  already 
putting  off. 

Now,  it  was  true  that  I  did  not  believe  in  Dick's 
assertion,  being  assured  that  he  but  made  it  to  torment 
and  defy  me  ;  yet  when  I  saw  the  barge  departing  with 
those  two,  Beresford  and  her  brother,  side  by  side  in 
the  stern,  it  cost  me  a  sharp  pang  of  jealousy  and  pain. 
Might  it  not  well  be  as  he  said?  What  hope  had  1,  a 
rebel  in  her  eyes,  ay,  a  traitor,  to  win  her?  I  set  my 
teeth,  and  turned  my  back  upon  the  town  that  held  her, 
and  swore  that  I  would  forget  her  and  the  love  I  bore 
her  —  but,  as  you  know,  I  did  not  keep  my  oath. 


CHAPTER    XVI. 

A   MIDNIGHT   VIGIL. 

IT  was  but  a  few  days  after  the  exchange  of  prisoners 
that  Mr.  Gage  issued  a  proclamation  insulting  and  ar 
rogant  in  tone.  It  declared  martial  law,  after  formally 
citing  the  rebellious  conduct  of  the  multitudes  and 
offering  pardon  only  to  those  "  rebels  and  traitors  "  who 
at  once  laid  down  their  arms.  Samuel  Adams  and  John 
Hancock  were  excepted,  because  their  offences,  so  ran 
the  proclamation,  were  of  "  too  flagitious  a  nature  to 
admit  of  any  other  consideration  than  that  of  condign 
punishment."  The  colonists  bitterly  resented  this  attack 
upon  their  most  trusted  leaders,  and  the  governor's 
conduct  served  to  kindle  the  flames  of  war. 

The  country  was  deeply  agitated,  and  the  cause  of  the 
Massachusetts  Bay  was  awakening  the  sympathy  of  all 
her  sister  colonies.  The  Congress  at  Philadelphia,  two 
days  after  Mr.  Gage's  proclamation,  formally  adopted 
our  army,  calling  it  the  Continental  Army.  On  that 
day,  too,  Colonel  George  Washington  was  unanimously 
elected  commander-in-chief  of  the  colonial  forces.  His 
nomination  caused  some  surprise  amongst  us ;  for  we 
had  felt  confident  that  a  New  England  man  would  be 
chosen,  since  all  the  trouble  centered  now  in  Massachu 
setts.  Some  had  looked  to  General  Ward,  and  it  was 
even  rumored  that  Mr.  Hancock  expected  the  appoint 
ment,  but  all  who  knew  the  high  character  of  Mr. 
Washington  were  well  content  with  the  choice.  My 


A   MIDNIGHT  VIGIL.  11$ 

father  and  many  others  had  desired  it,  and  we  who  were 
at  the  camp  longed  greatly  for  the  presence  of  a  com 
mander  who  would  reconcile  all  differences  and  direct 
the  entire  army.  The  colonies  were  unhappily  inclined 
to  act  with  too  great  an  independence  of  each  other,  and 
our  only  harmony  was  our  common  cause  against  a 
common  foe. 

By  the  middle  of  June  there  were  many  contradictory 
rumors  of  the  enemy's  designs,  but  one  thing  seemed 
certain  ;  they  purposed  to  seize  and  occupy  both  Charles- 
town  Heights  and  Dorchester  Heights,  and  it  was  appar 
ent  that  we  must  take  measures  to  defeat  this  effort, 
since  to  permit  them  to  occupy  such  commanding  posi 
tions  would  mean  certain  disaster  to  our  forces.  My 
father's  prominence  assured  me  a  place  in  the  confi 
dence  of  the  commanders,  and  I  was  sometimes  present 
at  their  councils,  though  my  military  rank  did  not  entitle 
me  to  a  consideration.  My  name  won  me  admittance, 
and  thus  I  was  not  as  ignorant  of  the  designs  of  our 
officers  as  were  others,  and  I  understood  the  meaning  of 
the  orders  when  they  came.  Hitherto  we  had  made 
but  small  attempts  at  fortification,  although  breastworks 
had  been  thrown  up  in  Cambridge,  where  our  main 
body  lay,  and  another  breastwork  near  Prospect  Hill, 
but  we  were  poorly  supplied  with  artillery.  The  troops 
of  Massachusetts  Bay  were  at  Cambridge  and  Roxbury, 
and  I  was  with  those  at  the  former  place.  We  were 
quartered  in  the  buildings  of  Harvard  College,  in  the 
church,  and  in  tents.  The  greater  part  of  the  Connecti 
cut  troops  were  at  Inman's  Farm,  but  a  part  of  Little's 
regiment  was  at  the  tavern  at  Menotomy.  We  had  also 
a  strong  detachment  at  Lechmere's  Point;  troops  lay 
too  at  Chelsea,  Medford,  and  Charlestown  Neck.  But 
we  were  raw  recruits  at  best,  while  Mr.  Gage  had  already 


Il6  A    YANKEE    VOLUNTEER. 

received  strong  reinforcements  of  veterans  and  tried 
ofificers  to  pit  against  us. 

On  the  sixteenth  of  June  an  order  was  issued  which 
surprised  and  confused  many.  The  regiments  of  Frye, 
Bridge,  and  Prescott  were  commanded  to  parade  with 
their  intrenchment  tools  at  six  o'clock  in  the  evening. 
No  explanation  was  vouchsafed,  and  but  a  few  divined 
the  purpose  of  the  call.  It  was  with  much  curiosity  and 
some  perplexity  that  the  men  assembled  at  the  appointed 
hour.  The  full  number  did  not  respond,  and  the  troops 
of  the  Massachusetts  Bay  and  Connecticut  mustered 
scarcely  twelve  hundred  strong.  They  were  directed  to 
bring  provisions  for  twenty-four  hours,  —  an  order  which 
was  not  strictly  obeyed,  —  and  the  neglect,  due  more  to 
inexperience  than  wilful  disobedience,  caused  much  suf 
fering.  We  marched  out  in  good  order,  and  paraded  on 
the  Common  before  General  Ward's  house  at  Cambridge. 
It  was  a  little  before  sunset,  and  the  great  elms  cast  long 
shadows  on  the  ground,  and  the  low  notes  of  the  robin 
and  the  thrush  thrilled  sweetly  from  the  hedgerows  and 
the  orchards. 

We  had  been,  doubtless,  too  much  elated  with  our 
successes  on  the  day  of  Lexington  and  at  Noddle's 
Island,  and  there  was  talk  of  driving  the  redcoats  out  of 
Boston,  so  that  we,  who  were  called  together  on  the 
Common,  were  full  of  hope  and  anticipation  of  future 
success.  Men  who  had  never  been  upon  the  field  of 
battle  knew  not  yet  its  terrors,  and  those  who  were  to 
be  least  gallant  in  action  were  bravest  in  their  talk. 

We  were  detained  some  time  at  Cambridge,  and  finally 
President  Langdon  of  Harvard  College  offered  a  fervent 
prayer,  invoking  the  blessing  of  Heaven  upon  our  enter 
prise,  before  we  set  out  on  our  march.  It  was  about 
nine  o'clock  when  more  than  a  thousand  resolute  men 


A   MIDNIGHT  VIGIL.  I  I  7 

<\ 
turned    their  faces  toward  Charlestown   Neck.     There 

was  no  moon,  and  in  the  darkness  our  numbers  seemed 
the  greater ;  only  the  lights  shone  from  the  windows  of 
General  Ward's  house,  the  rays  slanting  obliquely  to  the 
ground  and  making  small  spots  of  illumination  in  the 
night.  We  were  enjoined  to  maintain  strict  silence,  and 
there  was  no  sound  but  the  tramp  of  the  slow-moving 
companies  falling  in  line,  and  the  creak  of  the  wagons 
that  followed,  carrying  the  tools.  As  we  set  forth,  two 
sergeants  preceded  us  with  dark  lanterns  ;  then  came  the 
tall  erect  form  of  Colonel  Prescott,  who  commanded  the 
detachment..  He  was  a  veteran  of  the  French  wars, 
and,  possessing  one  of  the  rare  uniforms  in  the  camp,  he 
wore  it  upon  this  occasion.  It  was  blue,  the  coat  single- 
breasted  with  facings,  and  he  had  also  a  three-cornered 
hat  and  a  top  wig.  This  outfit  and  his  fine  presence 
made  him  a  notable  figure,  and  he  was  soon  to  show  us 
of  what  stuff  he  was  made. 

Silently  we  marched,  and  the  lights  of  Cambridge 
faded  behind  us  as  we  passed  on  upon  the  road  to 
Charlestown.  At  the  Neck  we  halted,  for  here  the 
orders  were  to  be  communicated  to  the  men  and  we 
stood  waiting ;  the  waters  of  the  Charles  on  one  side 
and  the  Mystic  on  the  other,  black  and  quiet.  Here 
Major  Brooks  and  General  Putnam  came  up,  and  the 
object  of  the  expedition  was  disclosed  to  all,  being 
received  with  enthusiasm.  We  were  to  occupy  and  in 
trench  Bunker  Hill,  a  height  which  overlooked  the  town 
of  Boston  and  which  the  British  had  threatened  to  seize. 
Captain  Nutting  was  now  despatched  to  the  lower  end  of 
Charlestown  to  act  as  a  guard,  while  the  rest  of  the 
detachment  proceeded  with  all  speed  and  caution  to 
Bunker  Hill.  Here  there  was  a  consultation  of  officers 
and  some  dispute.  The  orders  were  to  fortify  this  hill, 


Il8  A    YANKEE    VOLUNTEER. 

• 

but  we  inclined  to,  and  finally  decided  upon,  the  height 
nearer  Boston,  called  then  Charlestown  or  Green's  Hill, 
but  since,  by  common  consent,  named,  after  Breed's 
Pasture,  Breed's  Hill;  there  we  took  up  our  position, 
intending  also  to  fortify  Bunker  Hill  to  cover  a  retreat. 
There  was  no  further  delay ;  as  soon  as  we  reached  the 
eminence  our  packs  were  thrown  aside,  the  guns 
stacked,  and  privates  and  officers  labored  side  by  side 
upon  the  fortifications.  Colonel  Gridley,  the  engineer, 
mapped  out  the  plan,  and  by  twelve  o'clock  all  hands 
were  at  work  save  those  who  were  despatched  for  sentry 
duty,  which  portion  fell  to  my  lot.  Colonel  Prescott 
sent  Captain  Maxwell  and  a  party  to  patrol  the  shore  by 
the  old  ferry  and  watch  the  enemy,  so  close  at  hand,  both 
upon  land  and  water.  A  chain  of  sentinels  lined  the 
opposite  shore  at  Boston,  and  the  ships  of  war  lay 
around  the  peninsula  of  Charlestown.  The  Falcon  was 
at  Moulton's  Point,  the  Lively  across  the  water  by  the 
shipyard  ;  the  Somerset  at  the  ferry,  and  the  others  close 
by ;  and  there  were  also  floating  batteries.  It  seemed 
scarcely  possible  that  we  could  escape  their  vigilance, 
and  great  precaution  was  the  more  necessary. 

Captain  Maxwell's  party,  to  which  I  belonged,  pro 
ceeded  quietly  down  the  hill  toward  the  ferry-ways.  The 
warm  darkness  sheltered  us,  and  we  made  no  sound  upon 
the  turf,  but  we  could  hear  the  thud  of  pick  and  spade 
behind  us,  and  to  our  anxious  ears  the  sounds  seemed 
tremendous.  Above,  the  dark  sky  was  gemmed  with  stars, 
and  before  us  the  black  waters  of  the  channel  flowed 
serenely  calm.  I  remember  that  the  wild  roses  and  the 
barberries  were  blooming  on  the  hillside,  and  the  long  grass 
was  heavy  with  moisture  beneath  our  feet.  Across  the  ferry 
the  lights  of  Boston  twinkled,  and  lights  shone,  too,  upon 
the  shipping,  warning  us  where  lay  the  men-of-war.  On 


A   MIDNIGHT  VIGIL.  119 

our  right  glimmered  here  and  there  a  faint-hearted  light 
in  the  doomed  village  of  Charlestown,  now  almost  depopu 
lated  because  of  the  dread  of  the  guns  of  the  Ministerial 
army,  and  soon  to  receive  so  dreadful  a  visitation.  When 
we  reached  the  shore,  we  paused  to  listen,  and  heard, 
with  a  thrill  of  thankfulness,  the  sentry's  drowsy  cry, 
"  All 's  well !  "  It  came  floating  across  the  tide  from 
the  Boston  shore,  and  from  the  ships  sounded  the  same 
low  response,  "  All 's  well !  "  How  strangely  doth  fate 
infatuate  its  victims  !  Here  were  repose  and  indifference, 
while  a  sleepless  foe  labored  upon  the  height  to  bring 
destruction.  Thus  is  it  but  too  often,  when  death  waits 
for  us  beside  the  threshold  and  our  unwary  feet  stumble 
at  the  door. 

We  dared  not  hazard  speech  with  one  another,  and  in 
silence  patrolled  the  shore  through  the  long  watches  of 
the  night.  A  silence  of  man,  but  not  of  nature ;  many  a 
soft  sound  thrilled  in  the  darkness ;  the  gentle  sigh  of 
the  waves  rippling  on  the  beach,  the  murmur  of  insect 
life  upon  the  hillside,  the  low  cry  of  a  startled  waterfowl 
from  the  marshes,  the  distant  baying  of  some  watchful 
hound.  Far  out  upon  the  bay,  night  had  stretched  its 
sable  wings,  while  overhead  watched  the  midnight  stars. 
And  again  the  sentinels  answered,  "  All 's  well !  " 

Strange  and  sad  were  my  reflections,  although  my 
blood  stirred  at  the  thought  of  the  approaching  conflict, 
of  this  action  that  would  seal  the  fate  of  the  colony. 
There  had  been  some  hesitation,  on  the  part  of  our  sister 
colonies,  to  adopt  our  open  measures,  but  another  day 
would  doubtless  establish  a  state  of  war  in  Massachusetts 
Bay,  and  there  would  be  no  longer  any  half-way  measures. 
It  was  a  bold,  a  desperate  step  then  to  us ;  we  must  win 
our  cause  or  perish.  To  be  taken  by  the  enemy  meant 
not  a  soldier's  fate,  —  traitors  they  called  us,  and  all  such 


120  A    YANKEE    VOLUNTEER. 

would  surely  hang ;  and  the  thought  of  so  shameful  a 
death  sent  the  cold  blood  to  many  a  brave  heart.  Yet 
withal,  my  mind  dwelt  less  on  these  things  than  on  the 
quiet  town  of  Boston,  since  there  was  one  who  held  my 
heart.  Ay,  the  thought  of  her  was  with  me  all  the 
night.  How  fared  she?  Had  she  danced  a  few  hours 
since  at  the  ball  at  Province  House?  It  might  be,  and 
with  Beresford,  while  her  rebel  lover  trod  the  farther 
shore,  watching  the  sentinels  that  guarded  her,  watching 
that  his  comrades  might  erect  their  fortifications  to 
threaten  the  town.  "  Nay,  sir,"  were  her  last  words  to 
me,  "  you  are  a  rebel  and  no  less  ! "  Doubtless  she 
would  so  call  me  when  the  morning  light  revealed  the 
bristling  height. 

Meanwhile  the  intrenchments  grew  apace.  Near  day 
break  Colonel  Prescott  came  down  to  the  river,  and  find 
ing  the  enemy  quiet,  recalled  us  to  the  height.  The 
earthworks  were  now  raised  six  feet  or  so,  and  the  work 
was  still  going  on.  The  soldiers  were  weary  with  their 
endeavors,  and  we  all  aided  with  pick  and  spade ;  rank 
being  little  considered  among  these  volunteers.  So 
diligent  were  we  that  the  fortifications  were  in  fair  con 
dition  when  the  white  dawn  came,  in  a  keen  line, 
between  sky  and  sea.  Then,  with  a  sullen  roar,  the 
thunder  of  artillery  began.  The  watch  upon  the  Lively 
had  discerned  our  intrenchments  with  the  first  daylight, 
and  immediately  the  good  ship  slipped  her  moorings, 
opening  fire  upon  the  height,  and  cannon-balls  tore  the 
ground  about  us.  This  firing  presently  ceased,  but  only 
to  be  renewed  by  a  cannonade  from  Copp's  Hill  and 
from  all  the  men-of-war,  the  latter  moving  into  position 
to  rake  the  hill  and  its  approaches.  Happily,  our  works 
in  a  great  measure  protected  us,  else  would  our  raw 
recruits  have  faltered  under  so  new  and  fearful  an  on- 


A   MIDNIGHT  VIGIL,  121 

slaught ;  it  was,  as  General  Putnam  had  said,  that  if  our 
legs  were  sheltered,  we  would  fight,  since  the  American 
thought  not  of  his  head,  in  action,  but  greatly  of  his 
legs.  When  one  poor  fellow  was  killed,  some  left  the 
intrenchments  and  returned  no  more,  and  great  horror 
was  expressed  at  his  sudden  burial.  General  Prescott, 
seeing  how  his  lifeless  body  dispirited  the  men,  had 
ordered  an  immediate  interment,  and  the  good  people, 
accustomed  to  solemn  funerals,  were  profoundly  dis 
turbed,  the  chaplain  saying  a  hasty  prayer  in  spite  of  our 
commander's  impatience.  For  a  brief  space  the  cour 
age  of  the  militia  was  so  shaken  that  Prescott  leaped 
upon  the  parapet  and  walked  there,  regardless  of  the  fly 
ing  balls,  and  his  intrepidity  aroused  their  drooping 
spirits  so  that  they  began  to  be  less  fearful,  and  pres 
ently  were  again  composed.  Their  resolution,  too,  was 
quickened  by  the  delay  of  the  enemy,  who  came  not  to 
attack  us  until  noon ;  but  the  heat  was  oppressive  and 
the  men  were  weary,  and  having  neglected  to  bring  suffi 
cient  provisions  suffered  much,  and  it  was  long  before 
Colonel  Prescott  would  consent  to  send  for  reinforce 
ments.  Those  who  had  labored  through  the  night 
should  have  the  glory  of  the  victory,  he  said ;  but 
the  men  were  spent,  and  in  but  poor  condition  to  en 
dure  the  battle;  our  ammunition,  too,  needed  to  be 
increased. 

A  little  before  noon,  the  enemy  began  to  stir  in 
Boston ;  dragoons  galloped  through  the  streets  and  ar 
tillery  carriages  were  in  motion.  We  watched,  with 
eager  and  anxious  interest,  many  a  stout  heart  quiver 
ing  at  the  anticipation  of  a  first  battle,  while  our  ears 
were  deafened  by  the  roar  of  cannon,  as  the  ships 
moved  into  position  to  protect  the  landing  on  the 
peninsula.  We  saw  the  splendid  array  of  military  trap- 


122  A    YANKEE    VOLUNTEER. 

pings  as  the  Ministerial  army  marched  down  to  the  Long 
Wharf  and  North  Battery,  where  the  embarkation  took 
place,  and  under  cover  of  their  guns  the  barges  moved 
toward  Charlestown.  The  scarlet  uniforms,  like  a  blaze 
of  fire,  filled  the  boats,  and  the  sun  flashed  back  from 
burnished  arms  and  polished  cannon.  Never  advanced 
an  army  with  greater  pomp  or  more  indifference  to  a 
rustic  foe,  and  upon  the  hill  our  weary  troops  looked 
down  and  waited,  with  anxious  hearts  but  an  unwavering 
purpose  to  uphold  the  cause. 


CHAPTER   XVII. 

THE    CONFLICT. 

THE  Ministerial  army  landed  without  opposition  at 
Moulton's  Point,  but  there  halted  as  if  to  survey  our 
works.  Already,  wrought  to  a  state  of  intense  excite 
ment,  we  looked  down  upon  their  glittering  array  with 
mingled  feelings.  A  battle  was  inevitable,  and  how 
would  these  raw  recruits  endure  the  charge  of  troops 
that  had  served  with  conspicuous  gallantry  in  Europe  ? 
I  do  confess  that  as  I  stood  there,  measuring  our 
weakness  and  their  strength,  my  heart  was  filled  with 
forebodings.  Defeat  would  probably  mean  the  destruc 
tion  of  Cambridge,  and  would  cripple  our  cause :  our 
sister  colonies,  who  were  not  yet  committed  to  open 
hostilities,  would  fall  away  from  the  losing  side,  and  the 
Massachusetts  Bay  would  be  left  to  bear  the  full  force  of 
the  enemy's  vengeance.  Such  being  the  case,  it  re 
mained  for  us  to  fight  with  such  desperate  courage  as  to 
redeem  the  situation.  Many  murmured  because  no  re 
inforcements  came  for  a  long  while,  and  it  appeared  as 
if  we  had  been  deserted,  left  to  our  fate.  Scarcely  any 
provisions  reached  us,  either,  and  the  passage  at  the  Neck 
was  so  enfiladed  by  the  enemy's  cannon  that  it  seemed 
well  nigh  impossible  to  relieve  the  height.  Happily, 
however,  Dr.  Warren,  now  called  General  Warren,  since 
he  had  been  so  commissioned  by  Congress,  and  General 
Putnam  came  to  us  at  this  moment  of  suspense,  and 


124  A    YANA'EE    VOLUNTEER. 

brought  tidings  of  reinforcements,  which  cheered  the 
drooping  spirits  of  the  men. 

I  stood  at  the  redoubt,  looking  down  upon  the 
regulars,  who  were  eating  their  dinners  in  full  view  of 
the  hungry  Americans,  and  at  my  elbow  was  Ephraim 
Minot.  His  ardor  was  not  overshadowed  by  the  mo 
ment,  and  he  constantly  cheered  and  enlivened  the 
men  about  him.  He  leaned  upon  the  earthworks  and 
gazed  calmly  upon  the  redcoats,  a  twinkle  in  his  small 
light  eyes. 

"  This  is  adding  insult  to  injury,  as  General  Gage 
would  say,"  he  remarked  in  his  drawling  tone ;  "  it  is 
enough  to  pelt  us  with  their  balls  without  eating  their 
dinner  before  us.  Here  am  I,  as  good  a  man  as  any 
Britisher  there,  and  I  have  but  the  memory  of  beans, 
and  they've  been  sticking  in  my  chest  a  fortnight." 

"  We  may  be  presently  where  it  does  n't  much 
matter,"  responded  a  sober-faced  rustic  beside  him. 

"  Nay,"  said  Ephraim,  giving  him  a  scornful  glance, 
"  it  may  make  you  happier  to  die  with  an  empty  stom 
ach,  but  such  is  not  my  case.  I  'd  like  a  sandwich  to 
help  me  over  the  river." 

"  We  've  very  little  powder,"  began  the  lugubrious 
stranger. 

"You  don't  eat  powder,  do  ye?"  exclaimed  Ephraim, 
sharply. 

"  We  have  n't  enough  to  fight  them  with,"  the  other 
went  on,  unheeding  ;  "  and  see,  there  come  more  redcoats 
from  the  Long  Wharf." 

He  pointed,  as  he  spoke,  to  the  barges,  once  more 
loaded  with  troops,  that  were  leaving  Boston.  Evidently 
Mr.  Howe  regarded  our  position  as  strong  enough  to 
demand  a  strong  attacking  party. 

"  More  red  devils,"  remarked  Ephraim,  serenely ;  "  the 


THE   CONFLICT.  12$ 

gay  uniforms  will  be  shining  marks  for  our  muskets,  and 
we  are  ordered  to  reserve  our  fire  until  we  can  pick 
them  off." 

"  Or  they  pick  us  off,"  responded  the  melancholy 
minute-man,  as  he  looked  to  his  weapon. 

"  Cheer  up,  my  lad,"  said  Minot ;  and  leaning  on  his 
musket  he  began  to  sing  softly  one  of  the  new  patriot 
ditties,  and  the  men  about  us  brightened  at  the  sound 
of  his  voice.  There,  waiting  for  the  enemy,  he  sang 
this  song  gayly  to  the  end,  — 

"  Hark  !  't  is  Freedom  that  calls,  come,  Patriots,  awake  ! 
To  arms,  my  brave  Boys,  and  away; 
'T  is  Honor,  "t  is  Virtue,  't  is  Liberty  calls, 
And  upbraids  the  too  tedious  Delay. 
What  Pleasure  we  find  in  pursuing  our  Foes, 
Thro'  Blood  and  thro'  Carnage  we  '11  fly; 
Then  follow,  we  '11  soon  overtake  them,  Huzza ! 
The  Tyrants  are  seized  on,  they  die. 

"  Triumphant  returning,  with  Freedom  secured, 
Like  Men  we  '11  be  joyful  and  gay,  — 
With  our  Wives  and  our  Friends  we  will  sport,  love  and 

drink, 

And  lose  the  Fatigues  of  the  Day. 
'T  is  Freedom  alone  gives  a  Relish  to  Mirth, 
But  Oppression  all  Happiness  sours  ; 
It  will  smooth  Life's  dull  Passage,  't  will  slope  the  Descent, 
And  strew  the  Way  over  with  Flowers."1 

Before  Ephraim  had  ceased  singing,  there  was  a  more 
cheerful  expression  on  many  a  grave  face ;  and  we  had 
need  now  to  be  encouraged,  since  the  attack  was 
imminent. 

We  were  but  poorly  off  for  artillery,  and  had  re 
sponded  but  feebly  to  the  cannonade  of  our  foes  ;  later, 

1  From  the  "  New  England  Chronicle,"  May  18,  1775. 


126  A    YANKEE    VOLUNTEER. 

one  officer  of  our  artillery  company  deserted  his  post 
at  the  hour  of  danger,  for  which  he  was  afterwards 
cashiered.  Poorly  armed,  with  a  short  supply  of  powder, 
and  scarcely  a  handful  of  bayonets  amongst  us ;  ex 
hausted  by  the  fatigues  of  qur  long  vigil ;  hungry  and 
overcome  with  the  burning  heat  of  the  midday  sun,  we 
waited  to  receive  an  enemy,  fresh,  disciplined,  and 
fully  equipped,  whose  cannon  swept  the  little  peninsula 
with  shot  and  shell.  Surely,  the  Lord  of  Hosts  fought 
with  the  young  colonies,  else  would  we  never  have  pre 
vailed  !  But  as  David's  sling  of  stones  prevailed  against 
Goliath,  because  his  cause  was  a  just  cause,  so  did 
our  weakness  overcome  the  might  of  the  oppressor. 
Thus  will  it  be  ever ;  the  power  of  an  unrighteous 
enemy  will  fall  at  last  before  the  truth.  Our  defeat 
upon  that  day  was  but  the  beginning  of  our  victory. 

A  fearful  and  deafening  discharge  of  artillery  covered 
the  advance  of  the  enemy.  They  had  formed  in  two 
divisions ;  the  right  wing  moving  upon  the  fence  at  the 
foot  of  Bunker  Hill,  where  Colonel  Prescott  had  sta 
tioned  troops  to  prevent  them  from  turning  our  flank. 
The  left  wing  advanced  to  storm  the  redoubt,  where 
we  waited  in  breathless  suspense.  A  splendid  spec 
tacle  was  that  noble  array ;  brave  men  they  were,  and 
resolutely,  gayly  they  marched.  The  long  lines  of 
bayonets  flashed  in  the  sunlight,  and  their  scarlet 
coats  were  gay  as  for  a  festival.  Before  them,  with  in 
trepid  gallantry,  came  on  their  officers,  waving  their 
bright  blades  aloft  to  encourage  their  men.  Alas  !  how 
many  fell,  marks  for  the  keen  riflemen  above  them  ! 
"  Wait  until  you  see  the  whites  of  their  eyes,"  was  our 
order ;  and  when  a  few  soldiers  disobeyed  and  fired  as 
the  enemy  advanced,  we  who  were  in  command,  follow 
ing  Colonel  Prescott's  example,  sprang  upon  the  para- 


THE   CONFLICT.  I2/ 

pet  and  kicked  their  guns  aside.  Not  a  grain  of  powder 
could  be  wasted  at  an  hour  such  as  this.  The  redcoats 
fired  upon  us  as  they  came ;  but  their  aim  was  untrue, 
and  not  a  man  fell.  In  that  fearful  moment,  looking 
down  upon  them,  I  saw  the  boyish  face  of  Richard 
Talbot,  and  my  heart  sank  within  me.  He  was  charging 
at  the  head  of  his  company,  his  graceful  figure  a  con 
spicuous  mark,  and  his  whole  bearing  gallant  and  right 
noble.  I  touched  the  arm  of  Ephraim,  who  was  waiting 
with  his  finger  on  the  trigger. 

"  You  see  him,"  I  said  huskily,  pointing  out  the  boy ; 
and  Minot  nodded  gravely.  "  Spare  the  lad  if  you  can," 
I  added  sadly,  "  save  him,  if  you  can." 

"  I  would  not  harm  him,"  Ephraim  answered  soberly; 
"  he  has  a  soldier's  heart,  but  there  is  a  slim  chance  for  a 
redcoat  this  day." 

"  I  know  it !  "  I  exclaimed ;  "  but  the  poor  lad  — the 
brave  lad  —  it  will  break  her  heart  if  he  falls,"  I  went  on 
to  myself,  and  for  the  time  forgot  to  feel  a  tremor  at  this 
my  first  battle,  though  the  shot  rained  like  hail. 

Then  came  the  fearful  moment  when  we  fired.  Each 
man  was  a  marksman,  and  every  ball  sped  on  a  deadly 
errand ;  the  royalists  fell  on  all  sides,  but  they  were 
veterans,  and  our  fire  was  returned.  A  second  volley 
strewed  the  ground  before  us  with  the  dead  and  dying, 
the  cries  of  the  wounded  rending  the  air.  Eagerly  I 
watched,  and  yet  that  gallant  young  figure  was  erect ;  and 
now,  too,  a  retreat  was  ordered  by  their  commander, 
General  Pigot.  A  wild  shout  of  exultation  burst  from 
the  Americans ;  our  hearts  thrilled  madly  at  this  first 
victory,  it  seemed  as  if  the  day  were  ours.  Yet  even  at 
this  auspicious  moment,  when  their  right  wing  also  had 
fallen  back  before  the  patriots  at  the  foot  of  the  hill, 
Charlestown  was  set  on  fire,  both  from  the  shells  and  by 


128  A    YANKEE    VOLUNTEER. 

the  enemy's  marines,  and  the  doomed  village  burst 
forth  in  flames,  the  black  smoke  rising  like  a  tempest 
cloud  against  the  peerless  blue  of  the  June  skies.  The 
fire  rushed  along  the  streets  and  leaped  upon  the  roofs 
and  spires,  adding  yet  another  horror  to  that  tremen 
dous  scene.  And  now  the  redcoats  rallied  and  returned 
to  the  charge,  although  they  walked  over  the  bodies  of 
their  fallen  comrades,  —  trod  on  them  as  they  would  upon 
logs,  thus  does  war  harden  the  hearts  of  men.  This 
second  attack  was  directed  upon  the  party  at  the  fence, 
and  right  gallantly  were  our  enemies  repulsed.  It  was  a 
wild  scene  ;  the  flames  from  Charlestown  darting  in  the 
air,  while  the  black  smoke  foiled  away,  revealing  the 
glittering  ranks  of  the  enemy.  Splendid  was  their 
charge,  and  the  figure  of  General  Howe  was  conspicuous 
in  their  midst,  urging  them  to  yet  greater  efforts  ;  but  the 
merciless  fire  of  the  Americans  covered  the  ground  with 
the  dead  and  dying.  We  upon  the  heights  waited  and 
watched ;  the  roar  of  artillery  and  the  shouts  of  the 
combatants  deafened  our  ears.  Gallantly,  desperately  the 
royalists  rallied  and  charged,  and  our  men  suffered  too 
from  the  terrible  rain  of  shot.  At  last  the  British 
wavered,  broke,  fell  back,  and  the  wild  cheers  of  victory 
burst  from  the  Yankees.  Our  hearts  beat  high  with 
hope ;  the  regulars  were  not  invincible.  There  was  yet 
the  possibility  of  victory,  but  unhappily  our  powder  was 
well  nigh  exhausted.  In  the  interval  before  the  final 
attack  Colonel  Prescott  went  the  rounds  among  the 
men  with  praise  for  their  good  conduct.  Poor  fellows, 
exhausted  with  labor  and  hard  fighting,  they  merited 
and  needed  encouragement.  We  who  knew  how  low 
was  the  supply  of  powder,  looked  with  anxious  eyes  upon 
the  enemy ;  we  were  even  forced  to  use  cannon  car 
tridges  to  load  our  muskets,  and  one  company  of  artillery 


THE  CONFLICT.  1 29 

had  deserted,  so  that  General  Putnam  himself  served 
the  guns  and  begged  for  help  to  drag  the  cannon  into 
position.  Thus,  exhausted  and  poorly  armed,  we  waited 
and  saw  the  British  rallying  for  a  final  assault.  They 
had  now  brought  their  guns  to  bear  upon  the  breast 
works,  and  the  hot  fire  drove  us  into  the  redoubt.  They 
made  but  a  demonstration  at  the  rail  fence  ;  their  object 
was  to  storm  the  redoubt,  and  we  knew  that  our  hour 
had  come.  Gallantly  they  advanced,  though  our  bullets 
had  so  fearfully  depleted  their  ranks.  Our  fire  was  re 
served  until  the  last,  yet  it  slackened  but  too  soon,  from 
lack  of  ammunition,  and  divining  our  situation  they 
rushed  to  the  charge,  their  bayonets  flashing  in  our  eyes. 
On  three  sides  the  bullets  rained  a  leaden  tempest,  and 
the  deep  roar  of  the  artillery  shook  the  ground  beneath 
us,  while  the  shrieks  of  the  wounded  rent  our  hearts. 
Wildly,  splendidly,  the  redcoats  charged  with  the  bayo 
net  ;  the  first  man,  a  gallant  youth,  who  leaped  upon  the 
redoubt  was  killed  by  one  of  our  bullets,  but  they  came 
on,  unheeding,  like  a  mighty  torrent,  and  we  who  stood 
to  cover  the  retreat  that  Colonel  Prescott  ordered,  fought 
them  hand  to  hand.  Thank  Heaven  that  such  a  scene 
as  that  is  rare ;  so  hot  a  fire,  they  said,  was  not  at  Min- 
den.  Three  brave  men  fell  beside  me,  and  a  bullet 
pierced  my  coat ;  my  ammunition  was  exhausted,  but  I 
fought  with  the  butt  end  of  my  musket,  while  Ephraim, 
who  still  kept  near  me,  sprang  upon  a  redcoat,  wrenched 
his  weapon  from  his  hand,  and  slew  him  with  his  own 
bullet.  Even  at  that  fearful  moment  I  looked  for  Dick 
Talbot,  but  saw  him  not,  and  at  last  gave  way,  re 
treating  with  Colonel  Prescott,  who  was  almost  the  last 
to  leave  the  redoubt.  A  scene  of  awful  carnage,  the 
dead  and  dying  lying  thick  about  us,  and  I  fell,  stumbling 
upon  a  body,  for  the  ground  was  slippery  with  blood. 

9 


130  A    YANKEE   VOLUNTEER. 

Without  Ephraim  I  should  have  been  slain,  for  as  I  rose  a 
royalist  sprang  at  me  with  his  bayonet,  and  in  a  moment 
would  have  despatched  me  but  for  my  faithful  follower's 
strong  arm.  Minot  struck  him  from  behind  and  felled 
him,  and  helping  me  to  my  feet,  fought  beside  me  until 
we  reached  the  main  body.  We  heard  the  triumphant 
cheers  of  the  British  as  they  took  possession  of  the  redoubt, 
but  it  had  cost  them  dear.  The  gallant  force  of  patriots  at 
the  rail  fence  stood  their  ground,  nobly  covering  our  de 
parture.  We  were  now  in  full  retreat,  but  at  the  brow  of 
Bunker  Hill  brave  General  Putnam  rode  along  the  lines, 
striving  in  vain  to  rally  the  troops  to  make  one  desperate 
stand.  Here  it  was  that  I  aided  in  drawing  off  the  one 
fieldpiece  that  was  saved,  and  here  a  few  of  us  stood 
with  Putnam  and  the  gallant  Pomeroy,  until  the  bayonets 
of  the  enemy  were  upon  us ;  but  at  last  we  were  com 
pelled  to  retire,  crossing  the  Neck  under  the  fire  of  the 
British  ships,  but  one  of  our  cannon  being  left  to  cover 
our  retreat. 

Shattered  and  worn,  with  smoke  and  flame  in  the 
rear,  and  the  fire  of  shot  and  shell  raining  upon  them, 
the  Americans  crossed  over,  and  that  dreadful  day  was 
lost,  —  lost  and  won.  We  who  bore  the  heat  and  tra 
vail  received  rather  blame  than  praise,  yet  on  that  day 
the  United  Provinces  were,  in  spirit,  victorious  and 
England's  sovereignty  was  no  more.  But  the  colony 
was  thrown  into  mourning  by  the  death  of  the  gallant 
Warren,  who  fell  upon  the  height,  and  whose  loss  could 
not  be  repaired.  He  was  a  brave  and  loyal  gentleman, 
and  had  cheerfully  given  his  life  for  his  country,  and  his 
memory  is  yet  sacred  in  the  hearts  of  those  who  knew 
him  and  esteemed  his  pure  and  noble  character. 


CHAPTER  XVIII. 

THE   CONTINENTAL  CAMP. 

NIGHT  came  upon  the  scene  of  that  fierce  battle,  but 
it  was  scarcely  less  full  of  terror  than  the  day.  The 
sky  was  fearfully  illumined  with  the  fires  of  Charlestown, 
burning  yet ;  the  keen  flames  cutting  the  darkness  like 
fiery  knives,  and  the  dense  cloud  of  smoke  obscuring 
even  the  stars  overhead.  The  conflagration  lighted  the 
waters  of  the  Charles  and  of  the  Mystic,  on  either  hand, 
revealing  the  town  and  the  field  of  battle,  strewn  with 
dead  and  dying.  Away  from  this  deadly  brightness, 
the  country  behind  Boston  lay  by  contrast  in  the  thick 
night,  no  gleam  of  light  revealing  the  patriot  army. 
The  thundering  roar  of  the  British  guns  shook  the  air, 
the  cannonade  continuing  even  until  the  afternoon  of 
the  next  day,  which  was  the  Sabbath,  and  Mr.  Howe 
and  his  troops  rested  upon  their  arms  on  Bunker  Hill. 
Our  soldiers  lay  not  far  distant;  the  New  Hampshire 
troops  camping  that  night  on  Winter  Hill,  while  General 
Putnam  halted  a  detachment  upon  Prospect  Hill,  called 
more  often  Mount  Pisgah  ;  it  was  a  strong  position,  and 
both  these  hills  were  fortified  and  held  by  our  army. 

There  was  deep  disappointment  in  our  camp  at  the 
loss  of  the  battle,  and  General  Ward  expected  no  less 
than  that  the  Ministerial  army  would  march  on  Cam 
bridge  to  destroy  our  entire  force  and  seize  the  magazine. 
On  Sunday  the  Committee  of  Safety  sent  out  circulars 


132  A    YANKEE    VOLUNTEER. 

summoning  the  militia  on  every  side  to  strengthen  our 
arms.  It  was  long  before  we  learned  that  a  like  trepi 
dation  prevailed  in  Boston,  where  the  British  expected 
an  assault,  ay,  thought  that  we  should  lay  the  town  in 
ashes  to  avenge  our  loss.  Thus  each  party  feared  the 
other,  and  so  both  were  spared  to  recover  from  their 
losses.  We  were  not  the  only  sufferers,  though  bitter 
was  the  resentment  at  the  burning  of  Charlestown,  but 
the  streets  of  Boston  were  filled  with  the  procession 
bringing  in  their  dead,  the  flower  of  their  army  having 
been  sacrificed.  On  the  very  night  of  the  battle  they 
began  to  fortify  Bunker  Hill  and  strengthen  their  de 
fences,  which  betrayed,  at  least,  the  fact  that  they  no 
longer  scorned  their  enemies,  rustics  though  we  were ; 
it  was  not  until  a  shower  fell,  on  the  afternoon  of  the 
Sabbath,  that  their  artillery  ceased  its  deafening  roar. 
The  black  smoke,  still  rising  from  the  ruins  of  Charles- 
town,  told  the  story  of  the  four  hundred  buildings  lying 
in  ashes.  Much  property  had  been  lost  in  the  fire ; 
many  Bostonians  had  secreted  goods  there  which  per 
ished,  though  some  valuables  escaped  not  only  the  fire 
but  the  pillage  of  the  British,  and  were  recovered  in 
the  end. 

The  battle  was  over,  but  the  effects  of  it  were  but 
begun.  War  existed  now  between  the  colonies  and  the 
mother  country,  and  half-way  measures  were  forever 
at  an  end.  Patriotism  and  sympathy  fired  every  true 
American,  and  the  colonists  were  more  eager  to  embrace 
the  cause  of  Massachusetts  Bay.  Yet  our  position  was 
hazardous  enough ;  we  had  but  a  weak  force  to  meet 
the  power  of  the  Ministry,  and  to  lose  was  entire  ruin, 
since  in  truth  we  were  as  men  with  halters  about  our 
necks.  More  than  this,  to  fail  would  be  to  fasten  the 
chains  of  slavery  on  our  people ;  once  victorious,  the 


THE   CONTINENTAL   CAMP.  133 

Ministry  would  crush  opposition  with  an  iron  hand ; 
the  colonies  would  not  only  fail  to  win  their  rights,  but 
would  lose  such  liberties  as  still  remained  to  them. 
Therefore  it  was  with  desperation  that  we  intrenched 
our  army  and  waited  for  the  issue  of  the  conflict.  For 
tifications  were  strengthened  at  Cambridge  and  at  Rox- 
bury,  the  camp  being  constantly  disturbed  by  rumors 
of  a  British  sally,  and  our  works  were  shelled  after  some 
of  our  Indians  killed  four  of  the  regulars.  It  was  the 
Indians  of  the  Stockbridge  tribe,  enlisted  with  the  min 
ute-men,  who  constantly  picked  off  the  enemy's  sentries, 
being  skilled  with  their  arrows,  and  the  British  were 
slow  to  learn  their  stealthy  tricks  of  warfare.  Late  in 
June  there  was  a  skirmish  at  Boston  Neck,  the  regulars 
coming  out  at  daybreak  to  attack  our  outposts  near  the 
George  Tavern,  but  after  some  sharp  firing  we  drove 
them  back  to  their  own  lines.  Skirmishing  continued 
at  intervals,  but  the  enemy  sallied  not  in  strength,  lying 
in  Boston,  where  we  heard  that  they  made  light  of  their 
defeats  and  idled  away  the  time  in  masks  and  balls, 
turning  Faneuil  Hall  into  a  theater.  We,  on  our  side, 
gained  in  numbers  but  not  in  discipline,  and  waited 
now  for  the  commander-in-chief,  who  was  upon  the  way 
to  the  camp.  On  his  journey  from  Philadelphia,  he 
was  everywhere  received  with  state  and  ceremony,  even 
at  New  York,  although  they  welcomed  also  the  royal 
governor,  — so  strange  was  the  condition  of  public  affairs. 
At  Springfield  Mr.  Washington  was  met  by  the  Com 
mittee  of  the  Provincial  Congress,  and  from  there  he 
came  on  to  Cambridge,  where  already  a  great  concourse 
of  people  had  gathered  to  witness  so  unusual  a  spectacle 
as  the  parade  of  our  forces  to  receive  him. 

It  was  the  third  of  July  when   his   Excellency  took 
formal  command.     I   remember   looking  with   anxious 


134  A    YANKEE    VOLUNTEER. 

eyes  at  our  lines  and  feeling  sharply  disappointed  at 
their  poor  appearance.  The  men  themselves  were 
hardy,  muscular  fellows,  and  for  the  most  part  bore 
themselves  right  gallantly,  but  the  lack  of  military  organ 
ization  and  discipline  was  visible  enough.  There  was 
little  hope  that  the  array  would  make  a  favorable  impres 
sion  upon  the  new  chief,  and  we,  who  felt  the  responsi 
bility,  were  nervous  and  ill  at  ease.  I  know  that  I 
noticed,  with  some  envy,  the  good  order  and  soldierly 
appearance  of  the  Rhode  Island  troops  under  Briga 
dier-General  Nathaniel  Greene ;  he  was  an  excellent 
commander,  and  it  was  his  division  that  won  the  com 
mendation  of  his  Excellency.  We  were  surrounded  by 
crowds  of  country  folk,  chiefly  women  and  children 
related  to  the  militia-men,  and  the  variegated  colors  of 
their  frocks  added  a  gay  touch  to  the  scene. 

At  last  came  a  fine  cavalcade  of  officers  and  citizens 
of  high  repute,  escorting  the  commander-in-chief.  They 
rode  slowly  along  before  our  lines,  receiving  an  ovation,  for 
we  were  all  eager  to  see  and  welcome  a  commander  who 
was  held  in  so  great  esteem.  It  was  a  dignified  com 
pany,  but  it  was  not  difficult  to  discover  the  imposing 
figure  in  the  midst.  Mr.  Washington  was,  as  I  have 
said,  a  tall  man  and  massively  made,  his  countenance 
having  a  serene  dignity  ;  his  blue  eyes  lacked  fire  except 
on  the  rare  occasions  when  his  temper  was  roused,  which 
last  was,  to  say  the  truth,  a  whirlwind,  as  many  of  us 
learned  to  our  cost.  That  day  he  was  dressed  with  his 
usual  care  and  taste  ;  his  hair  neatly  powdered  and  tied 
back  with  black  ribbons,  his  coat  blue,  with  buff  facings, 
and  rich  epaulettes  upon  his  shoulders.  His  breeches 
and  waistcoat  were  also  buff,  and  on  his  hat,  which  was 
looped  up  in  front,  was  a  black  cockade,  which  became 
the  fashion  with  the  officers.  An  outburst  of  cheers 


THE   CONTINENTAL   CAMP.  135 

greeted  him  as  he  rode  forward  alone  and  wheeling  his 
horse  beneath  a  great  elm,  which  stood  before  our 
ranks,  held  his  naked  sword  aloft  and  formally  assumed 
command.  His  fine  appearance  appealed  to  every 
soldier's  heart,  and  wild  was  the  enthusiasm ;  here  was  a 
commander  whom  we  could  receive  with  confidence  and 
pride.  With  him  that  day  was  also  General  Charles 
Lee,  the  same  whom  I  had  seen  at  the  coffee-house  in 
Philadelphia,  and  who  was  reputed  so  great  a  soldier. 
He  lacked  the  dignity  and  fine  appearance  of  Washing 
ton,  however,  and  suffered  by  the  contrast. 

After  the  ceremony  was  over,  his  Excellency  pro 
ceeded  at  once  to  visit  all  the  posts,  and  I  was  of  the 
party  detailed  to  act  as  his  escort.  With  scrupulous 
care  he  made  his  rounds,  examining  our  lines  and  those 
of  the  enemy,  and  doubtless  his  heart  sank  at  the  con 
trast  between  these  new  soldiers  and  that  disciplined 
army.  He  drew  rein  on  Mount  Pisgah,  and  gazed  long 
on  the  beautiful  scene  before  him,  beautiful  despite  the 
black  ruins  of  Charlestown.  Here  the  eye  looked  out 
upon  Massachusetts  Bay,  the  town  of  Boston,  and  the 
surrounding  country.  But  half  a  mile  distant  were  the 
pickets  of  the  foe,  while  Bunker  Hill  was  white  with 
their  tents,  and  their  scarlet  uniforms  showed  thick  as 
drops  of  blood.  Above  our  old  redoubt  floated  the 
British  standard,  and  their  new  intrenchments  bristled 
with  cannon,  while  on  the  other  side,  toward  Roxbury, 
lay  another  strong  force  of  regulars,  and  their  men-of- 
war  were  stationed  in  the  rivers.  About  our  camp,  too, 
were  intrenchments ;  orchards  and  fields  were  opened 
together,  while  horses  and  cattle  grazed  in  the  mowing 
lands  and  in  the  cornfields.  Doubtless  the  task  of 
moulding  our  raw  forces  into  an  army  seemed  stupen 
dous,  and  I  think  that  Washington  bore  a  heavy  heart  that 


136  A    YANKEE    VOLUNTEER. 

day,  but  with  zeal  and  unfaltering  courage  he  took  up 
the  burden. 

My  father  had  come  with  him  from  Philadelphia, 
where  he  had  been  to  the  Congress,  and  we  had  a  few 
days  together  even  at  that  busy  time,  —  a  rare  happiness 
to  me,  since  we  were  tenderly  attached  to  each  other. 
He  brought  me  tidings,  too,  of  the  proceedings  at  Phila 
delphia,  and  of  the  jealousy  aroused  in  some  quarters  at 
the  choice  of  a  Virginian  to  command  the  forces.  He 
told  me,,  also,  of  the  uneasiness  felt  at  Colonel  Guy 
Johnston's  intrigues  with  the  Six  Nations,  whom  he  was 
urging  to  take  up  the  hatchet  for  the  king.  The  patriots 
intended  to  make  an  attempt  on  Canada,  and  trouble 
with  the  Indians  would  enhance  the  difficulties  of  this 
enterprise.  In  the  month  of  May  one  Ethan  Allen,  at 
the  head  of  a  small  body  of  troops  from  Massachusetts, 
Connecticut,  and  the  New  Hampshire  Grants,  had  sur 
prised  and  seized  the  king's  forts  of  Ticonderoga  and 
Crown  Point,  securing  many  cannon.  After  this  he 
and  General  Arnold  urged  the  importance  of  an  expedi 
tion  into  Canada ;  they  claimed  now  that  the  Canadians, 
being  more  French  than  English,  were  disaffected  to  the 
government,  and  that  they  and  the  Indians  would  wel 
come  a  patriot  force.  Thus  the  Revolution  grew  apace 
and  gained  in  strength,  and  the  cares  of  the  commander- 
in-chief  increased  with  each  succeeding  hour. 

My  father  tarried  not  long  with  me ;  duty  called  him 
to  Watertown,  where  the  Congress  of  Massachusetts  Bay 
was  sitting  ;  but  during  his  brief  stay  he  was  much  with 
General  Washington,  who  respected  his  high  worth. 
Being  my  father's  son,  I  was  commended  to  favor,  and 
received  ever  kind  and  courteous  treatment  from  his 
Excellency,  being  often  of  his  personal  escort  when  he 
went  his  tedious  rounds.  His  zeal  was  untiring,  and  he 


THE   CONTINENTAL  CAMP.  137 

and  General  Lee  labored  night  and  day  to  bring  these 
raw  recruits  to  order  and  create  an  army.  Sharp  dis 
cipline  was  inaugurated,  and  an  effort  made  to  teach 
these  rustics  the  distinction  between  a  private  and  an 
officer,  which  they  were  very  slow  to  learn,  being 
born  independent  and  many  having  the  disposition  of 
Ephraim,  which  defied  all  rules  and  regulations.  The 
camp  had  been  lax  and  full  of  irregularities,  but  now  all 
offenders  were  tied  up  and  given  thirty  lashes  or  more, 
and  the  nature  of  the  place  was  greatly  changed.  There 
was  much  discontent  at  the  new  order  of  things,  since 
his  Excellency  was  a  stern  judge,  sparing  no  one.  It 
was  a  common  sight  to  see  a  man  in  the  stocks,  and 
there  were  many  public  whippings.  Some  called  him 
too  severe  to  small  offenders,  but  doubtless  he  felt  that 
discipline  must  be  maintained.  At  first,  too,  he  made 
some  errors  because  he  did  not  understand  the  New 
England  character  and  he  was,  by  nature,  domineering 
in  temper,  though  a  most  courteous  gentleman. 

The  work  of  intrenchment  went  on  apace.  Washing 
ton  had  seen  at  a  glance  the  weakness  of  our  extended 
lines,  and  labored  to  strengthen  them  at  every  point. 
His  earnestness  inspired  the  men  to  such  exertions  that 
our  works  soon  reached  the  Mystic ;  gardens  and 
orchards  were  gone,  and  the  land  blossomed  with  guns. 
Our  camp  was  still  a  strange  place,  each  man  building 
his  tent  or  hut  to  his  own  liking ;  and  odd  and  various 
were  the  shapes  and  patterns  of  these  little  dwellings, 
sprung  like  toadstools  over  the  peaceful  meadows. 
There  were  tents  of  sail-cloth,  huts  of  board,  and 
some  of  stones  and  turf,  and  many  were  curiously 
wrought  with  wreaths  and  withes,  their  owners  being 
skilled  in  woodcraft,  with  a  natural  love  for  the  rustic 
scenes  of  their  home.  General  Nathaniel  Greene  greatly 


138  A    YANKEE    VOLUNTEER. 

pleased  his  Excellency  by  the  discipline  of  his  troops  and 
the  neatness  and  order  of  their  encampment,  being 
modelled  after  the  British ;  but  for  the  greater  part  we 
were,  I  think,  a  sad  disappointment  to  our  leader,  who 
looked,  no  doubt,  for  a  larger  and  finer  force.  We 
mustered  then  only  about  fourteen  thousand  strong,  and 
lay  extended  from  Roxbury  to  the  Mystic.  There  was 
a  great  stir  made,  however,  when  reinforcements  came 
from  Pennsylvania,  Maryland,  and  Virginia.  Some  of 
these  were  bush- fighters,  and  soon  won  our  admiration 
as  marksmen,  being  wondrous  skilful  with  their 
weapons. 

We  were  in  sharp  peril,  too,  because  of  our  lack  of 
ammunition ;  at  one  time  we  were  almost  without  pow 
der,  and  would  have  been  at  the  mercy  of  the  enemy,  if 
attacked.  There  was  also  scarcity  of  provisions  and  ill 
ness  in  the  camp ;  we  had  indeed  to  contend  with  all  the 
evils  of  a  large  and  poorly  organized  force  of  recruits 
who  as  yet  knew  not  even  the  regulations  that  would 
preserve  their  own  health  in  their  exposed  and  unusual 
quarters. 

Prisoners  taken  from  our  ranks  and  confined  in  Boston 
were  suffering  great  indignities,  being  thrown  into  com 
mon  jail  as  felons,  despite  the  spirited  remonstrance  of 
General  Washington.  Mr.  Gage  treated  our  commander 
as  a  rebel,  also,  which  gave  rise  to  a  sharp  correspond 
ence  ;  but  all  this  but  pointed  out  our  fate  if  we  should 
fall  into  the  hands  of  the  royalists,  and  the  breach 
widened  every  day  between  us.  Yet  the  camps  of 
Bunker  and  Prospect  Hills  lay  in  sight  of  each  other, 
and  much  stealthy  intercourse  went  on  between  the 
lines  where  were  old  acquaintances,  and  thus  tidings 
crept  through  the  encampments.  Ephraim.  having 
more  than  one  friend  in  Boston,  brought  me  much 


THE  CONTINENTAL   CAMP.  139 

information ;  it  was  from  him  that  I  heard  of  the  gay 
scenes  within  the  town,  where  balls  and  plays  continued. 
It  was  from  this  source,  too,  that  I  was  later  to  learn 
something  of  the  Talbots ;  it  was  Ephraim  who  dili 
gently  inquired  and  ascertained  the  safety  of  Richard, 
who  came  out  of  the  battle  of  Bunker  Hill  unscathed. 

The  summer  wore  on,  and  the  sultry  August  sun  shone 
hot  upon  us,  yet  no  decisive  blow  was  struck  and  a  feint, 
made  by  the  patriots  to  draw  the  British  from  Boston, 
failed.  In  the  night  the  Yankees  seized  and  fortified  a 
height  in  musket-shot  of  the  enemy's  lines  on  Boston 
Neck  ;  but  though  they  fired  upon  the  works,  they  did 
not  venture  from  their  fastness,  and  the  two  armies  lay 
watching  each  other,  much  as  cats  watch  before  a  rat- 
hole. 


CHAPTER    XIX. 
EPHRAIM'S  PRISONER. 

IN  August  the  camp  at  Cambridge  was  visited  by  an 
embassy  from  the  Indian  tribes  of  Canada.  At  that 
time  the  expedition  against  the  northern  provinces 
was  under  consideration,  General  Schuyler  and  Gen 
eral  Montgomery  being  its  prospective  leaders ;  therefore 
our  savage  visitors  were  received  with  great  courtesy  and 
respect.  The  sachems  were  from  the  Caughnawaga  and 
Saint  Francis  tribes,  the  first  being  from  the  banks  of  the 
Saint  Lawrence,  near  Montreal,  the  last  from  above 
Quebec.  General  Washington  was  well  acquainted  with 
the  customs  and  characters  of  the  redmen,  having  dealt 
with  them  in  the  wilderness  and  during  the  French  wars, 
and  he  invited  them  to  dine  at  headquarters  with  his 
staff.  He  had  brought  his  black  slaves  from  Virginia, 
and  lived  in  a  dignified  and  handsome  style  in  the 
large  house  assigned  for  his  use.  He  constantly  bade 
guests  to  dinner,  and  members  of  the  provincial  Con 
gress  and  persons  of  consequence  were  almost  daily  at 
his  board.  His  friendship  for  my  father  gave  me  free 
access  to  his  presence,  and  I  was  frequently  honored  with 
invitations,  and  dined  there  on  the  day  that  he  entertained 
the  sachems.  The  scene  was  worthy  of  an  artist's  pen 
cil  :  the  long  room  with  its  neatly  sanded  floor,  the 
open  windows  affording  glimpses  of  sun-lighted  turf  and 
the  spreading  branches  of  the  elm  and  poplar  ;  close  to 
the  window-sills  bloomed  the  great  double  hollyhocks,  the 


EPHR  AIM'S  PRISONER.  141 

heavy-headed  stalks  nodding  in  at  us.  The  long  table 
was  spread  with  homely  viands,  and  Hollands  and  Ma 
deira  and  rum  were  on  the  sideboard ;  his  Excellency 
was  a  liberal  provider,  though  his  own  diet  was  simple 
and  plain  enough.  I  remember  that  after  Trenton  the 
Hessian  officers,  his  prisoners,  who  dined  with  him, 
commented  on  his  abstemious  meal  of  fruit  at  a  board 
well  provided  for  his  guests ;  the  full-fed  Germans 
could  not  understand  his  habits.  He  sat  at  the  head  of 
his  table,  ever  dignified  and  courteous,  but  never  talka 
tive  ;  he  was  a  deliberate  man,  both  in  thought  and 
speech.  On  this  occasion  he  was  scrupulously  attired, 
in  full  uniform,  his  blue  coat  faced  with  buff,  like  his 
waistcoat,  and  at  his  neck  were  ruffles  of  fine  lace.  The 
officers  present  wore  also  buff  and  blue,  while  the  judges 
and  the  lawyers  were  more  soberly  clad,  and  had  on 
great  white  wigs,  tied  back  for  the  most  part  in  black 
queue-bags,  the  same  wigs  that  were  in  later  years  much 
ridiculed  by  Baroness  de  Riedesel,  the  wife  of  the  Hes 
sian  general.  In  the  midst  of  this  company  sat  the 
sachems,  their  faces  painted  in  long  streaks  of  rainbow 
colors,  and  their  coarse  black  hair  dressed  with  eagle 
feathers ;  about  their  necks  were  chains  of  wampum, 
and  their  blankets  were  of  the  gayest  dyes.  They  be 
haved  with  great  decorum,  being  men  of  rank  in  their 
tribes,  and  having  a  native  majesty  of  mien  which  sat 
well  upon  them.  They  were  simple,  too,  like  children 
in  their  curiosity  and  their  respect  for  men  of  noted 
courage.  It  has  always  seemed  to  me  that  the  Indian, 
a  free  man  —  as  God  made  him  —  brave,  upright,  and 
sincere,  is  worthy  of  all  esteem.  They  have  been  ever, 
unhappily,  too  ready  pupils  of  the  white  man,  and  have 
learned  but  evil  lessons  from  him.  Being  cheated  they 
have  learned  to  cheat,  and  have  developed  other  evil 


142  A    YANKEE    VOLUNTEER, 

traits  too  numerous  to  name.  I  know  that  on  that  day 
they  won  many  good  opinions,  though  they  were  an  em 
barrassment  to  his  Excellency.  They  were  ready  to  take 
up  the  hatchet  in  our  cause,  and,  as  the  schemes  against 
Canada  were  not  yet  ripe,  they  were  too  previous,  and  it 
was  necessary  to  deal  with  them  with  caution. 

After  the  dinner  was  over,  the  matter  was  much  dis 
cussed  amongst  us ;  we  knew  that  the  sachems  would 
presently  hold  a  council  fire,  and  it  seemed  impossible 
to  avoid  definite  measures.  There  had  been  some  stir 
in  camp  all  day,  though  the  British  were  quiet  enough 
in  Boston ;  but  our  men  were  ever  expectant  of  a  sur 
prise,  especially  at  the  two  points,  Roxbury  and  the 
outposts  by  the  Mystic.  The  troops  of  Massachusetts 
Bay  were  still  stationed  at  Cambridge,  and  here  I  had 
my  quarters.  At  first  I  had  taken  lodgings,  but  now 
camped  beside  the  lines.  My  tent  was  of  sailcloth, 
curiously  ornamented  with  rustic  trimmings  by  Ephraim, 
who  was  a  woodsman  and  delighted  in  all  the  arts  of  his 
craft.  I  remember  that  it  was  pitched  in  the  confines 
of  an  apple-orchard,  below  the  Common,  near  the  road 
that  led  past  Inman's  woods  to  Charlestown  Neck.  I 
was  a  little  apart  from  the  lines,  and  so  had  some  mo 
ments  of  quiet.  Behind  my  tent  lay  the  orchard,  the 
trees  now  laden  with  green  fruit ;  before  it  the  old 
fence  was  broken  down,  and  a  sloping  meadow  stretched 
out  in  undulating  lines,  the  long  grass  sprinkled  with  the 
golden  buttercups,  the  pink  clover,  and  the  silky  white 
heads  of  the  seeded  dandelions,  and  there  the  little 
yellow  butterflies  held  carnival.  Beyond  these,  I  could 
see  the  waters  of  the  Charles. 

It  was  after  nightfall,  when  I  had  returned  from  my 
rounds,  that  I  sat  reading  by  the  light  in  my  tent.  The 
weather  was  sultry ;  not  a  leaf  stirred,  and  I  could  hear 


EPHR AIM'S   PRISONER.  143 

the  crickets'  shrill  outcry  in  the  fields,  and  now  and 
again  the  call  of  our  sentries.  My  thoughts  wandered 
from  my  book  ;  before  my  mind  arose  the  face  of  Joyce. 
I  knew  that  Boston  was  now  sorely  pressed,  and  that  pro 
visions  were  running  short,  and  I  dreaded  the  thought 
that  distress  might  touch  her,  or  the  shadow  of  it.  How 
could  she,  so  delicately  reared,  endure  the  hardships  and 
privations  of  a  beleaguered  town  beset  by  war  without 
and  pestilence  within,  since  smallpox  had  already  made 
its  appearance  in  Boston  ?  I  sat  there  meditating  upon 
it.  I  must  contrive  some  means  to  send  her  help  in  the 
hour  of  need.  Messages  got  through  the  lines  in  spite 
of  all  vigilance,  and  surely  I  could  find  some  way  to 
reach  her.  Her  scornful  treatment  of  the  rebel  had 
not  destroyed  the  rebel's  love  for  her;  her  blue  eyes 
looked  at  me  still  as  I  had  seen  them,  more  than  'once, 
beautiful  in  their  tenderness,  and  clear  as  the  soft  blue 
skies  above  me,  where  shone  now  the  evening  star.  I 
went  to  the  door  of  my  tent  and  looked  out  over  the 
wide  meadow,  sweet  with  clover  blossoming,  to  the 
river  shining  in  the  dusk  like  a  broad  ribbon  of  silver. 

While  I  stood  there,  thinking  of  the  sword  that  was 
drawn  between  kindred  and  friends  and  of  the  hard  fate 
that  made  my  duty  and  my  love  strangers  to  each  other, 
I  heard  the  sound  of  feet  approaching  through  the  or 
chard,  the  snapping  of  the  twigs  they  trod  upon,  but  no 
word  spoken.  Listening  and  expectant,  I  waited  and 
saw  two  dark  figures  coming  through  the  dusk ;  one  I 
could  not  fail  to  recognize  because  of  its  length  and 
swinging  gait,  the  other  came  with  more  reluctance.  It 
was  Ephraim's  voice  that  accosted  me  before  they 
reached  the  tent. 

"Are  you  there,  Mr.  Allen,"  he  asked  in  his  usual 
composed  manner,  "and  are  you  alone?" 


144  A    YANKEE    VOLUNTEER. 

I  responded  in  the  affirmative,  and  the  two  came  up 
together ;  then  it  was  that  I  saw  that  Ephraim  had  his 
companion  by  the  arm  with  one  hand,  and  in  the  other 
held  gingerly  a  naked  sword.  No  suspicion  of  the  truth 
came  to  me ;  knowing  the  man  as  I  did,  I  thought  that 
he  had  caught  some  delinquent  and  was  bringing  him  to 
judgment. 

"  Whom  have  you  there  ?  "  I  asked,  trying  to  see  their 
faces  in  the  darkness. 

"A  prisoner  of  the  United  Provinces,"  Ephraim  re 
plied  solemnly,  "  a  prisoner  of  war." 

"Do  you  mean  a  soldier  of  the  Ministerial  army?"  I 
inquired  sharply,  with  surprise. 

"  No,  sir,  a  soldier  of  his  Majesty,  the  King  of  Great 
Britain  and  of  the  Colonies  of  North  America,"  replied 
a  haughty  voice  that  made  me  start. 

It  was  Dick  Talbot's. 

"  'Sh  !  "  ejaculated  Ephraim,  "  softly,  young  man,  other 
ears  may  hear  you,  and  they  do  not  love  a  lobster  back 
in  these  parts." 

"  You  are  a  knave  and  a  fool  to  boot !  "  replied  Dick, 
with  his  usual  temper. 

"  Nay,"  said  Ephraim,  mildly,  "  not  too  great  a  fool  to 
catch  you." 

Here  I  interrupted  the  colloquy  by  bidding  Dick  enter 
my  tent  while  Ephraim  stood  guard  at  the  door.  Then, 
turning,  I  looked  at  my  prisoner  in  the  light  of  the 
lamp,  still  burning  on  the  table.  To  my  surprise,  he 
wore  a  dark  coat  and  showed  no  evidence  of  his  pro 
fession  save  his  sword  belt  and  empty  scabbard,  for  it 
was  his  sword  that  I  had  seen  in  Ephraim's  hand.  For 
the  moment  I  knew  not  what  to  believe.  The  first 
thought  that  flashed  upon  me,  that  he  had  come  a  spy 
upon  our  lines,  I  put  away  with  contemptuous  unbelief; 


EPHR AIM'S  PRISONER.  145 

it  was  not  like  him.  Meanwhile  he  confronted  me  in 
sullen  silence ;  his  hat,  a  plain  black  beaver,  looped  up 
on  three  sides,  set  low  over  his  eyes,  and  his  young  face 
was  flushed  with  indignation  and  mortified  pride. 

"  If  you  came  here  voluntarily,  Dick,"  I  said,  "  I  should 
be  happy  to  bid  you  welcome,  but  as  it  is,  I  do  indeed 
regret  to  see  you." 

"  Not  more  than  I  regret  to  be  here,"  he  retorted 
shortly  ;  "  but  I  am  at  your  mercy  now  —  what  will  you 
do  with  me?  " 

He  voiced  the  question  that  was  uppermost  in  my 
own  mind  and  for  which  I  found  no  answer. 

"  What  unhappy  errand  brought  you  within  our  lines?  " 
I  asked  gravely. 

He  gave  me  a  quick  defiant  look,  and  folding  his  arms 
upon  his  breast  stood  there  with  close-locked  lips. 

"  I  had  no  thought  of  asking  an  unworthy  question," 
I  said  quietly ;  "  but  you  are  a  soldier,  and  know  the  laws 
of  the  camp." 

"  Ay,"  he  responded  coldly,  "  I  ask  no  quarter ;  you 
can  deliver  me  at  once,  a  prisoner  of  war." 

"Were  you  taken  in  a  skirmish?"  I  inquired  calmly. 

"  No,"  he  retorted,  frowning ;  "  that  long-legged  devil 
yonder  leaped  upon  me  on  the  river  bank  more  like  a 
cat  than  a  human,  shrieking  something  about  '  Medfield ' 
in  my  ears,  and  because  I  blundered  with  your  con 
founded  password,  he  bore  me  down  and  stripped  me 
of  my  arms." 

Now  "  Dedham "  was  the  parole  that  day  and 
"  Medfield"  the  countersign,  so  that  Dick  had  stumbled 
on  our  pickets,  and  it  was  fortunate  that  it  was  Ephraim 
and  not  a  stranger,  yet  the  case  was  bad  enough. 

"Where  is  your  uniform?"  I  asked  quietly,  with  a 
significant  glance  at  his  dark  clothes. 

10 


146  A    YANKEE    VOLUNTEER. 

"Why  trifle  with  me,  Allen?"  he  replied  peevishly. 
"  I  am  in  your  power,  but  I  will  not  answer  a  Puritan 
catechism.  Give  me  up  at  once,  and  let  there  be  an 
end  between  us." 

"  Alas,  Dick,"  I  said  sadly,  "  take  you  no  thought  of 
the  consequences?  You  would  be  hung  as  a  spy  !  " 

He  stood  a  moment  staring  at  me  with  dilated  eyes, 
his  face  growing  gray  as  ashes ;  then  he  staggered  to  a 
seat  upon  my  army  chest,  and  covered  his  face  with  his 
hands,  uttering  no  word.  Then  I  knew  that  he  was 
innocent,  and  marvelled  greatly  that  he  had  been  so 
blind.  For  a  while  we  were  both  silent,  he  sitting  with 
his  head  upon  his  hands  and  I  standing  by  the  table 
with  a  heavy  heart,  as  Heayen  knows.  But  a  moment 
since,  I  had  been  dreaming  of  Joyce,  longing  for  some 
tidings  from  her,  and  now  here  was  her  brother,  bearing 
so  strong  a  likeness  to  her,  and  he  was  my  prisoner.  I 
must  do  my  duty,  and  cruel  was  the  prospect  of  it.  I 
stood  half  stupefied  with  trouble,  my  eyes  mechanically 
studying  every  detail  of  his  graceful  figure,  from  his 
bright  hair,  from  which  he  had  brushed  the  white 
powder,  to  his  dark  coat  and  small  clothes  and  high 
riding-boots.  He  had  slender  hands,  almost  like  a 
woman's,  and  I  noted  with  a  pang  a  likeness,  even  in 
those,  to  her  hands,  which  I  loved  so  well.  It  seemed  an 
hour  before  he  raised  his  head  and  I  saw  the  drawn 
look  on  his  face. 

"I  am  no  spy,"  he  declared  in  a  low  voice,  "but 
who  will  believe  me?" 

"  Few  but  myself,  I  fear  me,  Dick,"  I  answered  kindly, 
with  an  aching  heart. 

"  At  least,"  he  said,  "  they  can  treat  me  like  a  gentle 
man.  I  care  not  if  they  shoot  me  as  a  prisoner  of  war, 
but  a  spy  ! " 


EPHR AIM'S  PRISONER.  147 

"  I  cannot  see  how  they  can  treat  you  as  aught  but 
a  spy,"  I  replied  in  a  low  voice.  "  Mr.  Gage  would  so 
treat  me  —  ay,  worse,  he  would  make  me  a  common 
felon,  if  I  fell  thus  into  his  hands." 

"You  are  a  rebel,"  rejoined  Dick,  flatly,  with  the  full 
strength  of  his  convictions. 

I  felt  my  face  burn,  and  bit  my  lip  to  check  the  angry 
retort  upon  it,  for  was  he  not  at  my  mercy  ? 

"  We  will  not  take  up  the  question  now,"  I  said 
gravely.  "  He  who  loses  is  a  rebel,  he  who  wins  a 
patriot,  —  it  is  the  interpretation  of  fortune  only ;  I  am 
content  to  abide  the  issue.  It  is  my  unhappiness  to  be 
your  captor  now." 

"  Nay,"  replied  Dick,  grimly,  "  take  not  the  glory  from 
that  drawling  Yankee  yonder.  He  took  me  fairly, 
though  by  surprise." 

"  I  wish  that  he  had  been  less  ready  to  do  his  duty 
for  that  once,"  I  retorted  with  a  sigh.  "Alas,  Dick, 
what  can  we  do?" 

He  looked  at  me  with  scorn.  "  You  are  a  rebel,"  he 
said  bitterly,  "  and  know  the  authorities  in  this  hornet's 
nest ;  you  can  therefore  very  easily  be  rid  of  me  at  the 
cost  of  a  little  rope,  since  you  are  pleased  to  call  me  a 
spy." 

1  groaned  aloud,  in  the  bitterness  of  my  soul. 

"  Alas  !  "  I  said,  "  that  biting,  gibing  Talbot  tongue  ! 
You  cannot  forgive  me,  even  at  this  moment.  Yet  you 
are  an  American  by  birth,  as  I  am,  Dick,  and  have  no 
right  to  scorn  your  country's  cause." 

He  vouchsafed  no  reply,  but  sat  there  with  folded 
arms  and  disdainful  eyes,  although  his  face  was  white. 
And  I,  in  misery  and  bewilderment,  turned  from  him 
and  went  out  and  spoke  with  Ephraim.  He  told  briefly 
of  the  capture,  which  was  accidental ;  he  had  been  on 


148  A    YANKEE    VOLUNTEER. 

picket  duty,  but  was  relieved  and  on  his  way  to  the  river 
for  a  drink,  when  coming  suddenly  from  behind  a 
hedgerow  he  stumbled  upon  a  stranger.  His  suspicion 
awakened,  he  had  seized  him  with  his  usual  agility  and 
disarmed  him  in  the  struggle,  snatching  Dick's  pistol 
before  he  could  fire  it,  —  a  fortunate  occurrence,  since 
the  shot  would  have  brought  the  sentry.  Ephraim  had 
brought  his  prisoner  to  me  in  ignorance  of  his  identity, 
only  recognizing  him  as  the  young  officer  of  the  Bunker 
Hill  battle,  when  he  saw  his  face  at  the  tent  door.  No 
one  else  knew  of  the  capture,  and  I  drew  a  breath  of  re 
lief,  since  I  would  now  have  leisure  for  a  few  moments' 
thought.  I  bade  Ephraim  guard  the  prisoner,  and  left 
them,  walking  on  across  the  meadow  toward  the  river 
with  an  aching  heart.  My  duty  walked  before  me  plain 
and  rigid,  and  I  battled  with  the  Tempter  in  great  agony 
of  soul. 


CHAPTER  XX. 

A   PURITAN   CONSCIENCE. 

I  WALKED  down  through  the  meadows  to  the  river 
bank,  answering  the  challenge  of  a  sentry  on  my  way. 
The  friendly  shadows  of  the  night  lay  all  about  me,  and 
looking  back,  I  saw  the  flickering  lights  of  the  camp, 
/ike  eyes  in  the  darkness,  watching  lest  I  should  fall 
away.  Down  by  the  water  the  frogs  and  crickets  made 
a  ceaseless  undertone  of  sound,  as  they  will  late  in  the 
summer.  All  these  trifling  things  I  noted,  with  a  pain 
ful  consciousness  of  my  surroundings,  but  my  spirit 
was  in  travail,  and  brought  forth  only  that  grim  child, 
Despair.  To  my  mind,  there  could  be  but  one  course, 
and  that  was  hideous.  I  felt  as  if  Dick's  blood  was  on 
my  hands  already,  that  I  bore  upon  my  forehead  the 
brand  of  Cain.  Yet  my  conscience  would  not  permit 
the  betrayal  of  my  trust,  though,  as  Heaven  knows,  in 
the  darkness  I  prayed  for  deliverance  with  a  breaking 
heart.  "  No  one  knows  that  he  is  in  thy  hands,"  pleaded 
the  Tempter,  "no  one  but  the  man  who  loves  thee; 
therefore  loose  him  and  let  him  go."  But  I  set  my 
teeth,  and  walked  to  and  fro  beside  the  Charles,  strug 
gling  against  the  fearful  temptation  until  the  drops  of 
cold  sweat  stood  on  my  forehead.  My  honor  and  my 
father's  were  at  stake,  and  that  higher  duty  which  I 
owed  my  country ;  if  I  thus  betrayed  them  all,  I  was 
worthy  myself  to  die  a  traitor's  death.  Should  the  love 
of  woman  be  my  ruin  ?  My  duty,  in  itself,  was  simple ; 


I5O  A    YANKEE    VOLUNTEER. 

my  part  but  small  in  the  tragedy  that  must  ensue.  I  had 
only  to  deliver  him,  a  prisoner,  to  my  superior  officer,  and 
all  was  done.  No  more  ;  but  I  would  be  his  murderer, 
in  my  own  eyes  and  in  hers,  and  in  the  darkness  I  saw 
her  face,  her  dear  face,  as  it  had  looked  that  last  day  at 
Marblehead,  pale  as  a  white  rose,  and  with  tears  shining 
in  her  eyes.  And  if  I  did  this  thing  —  my  duty  —  could 
I  stand  before  her,  red-handed  with  her  brother's  blood  ? 
Yet  I  had  drawn  the  sword  for  Massachusetts  Bay,  I 
bore  the  commission  of  the  United  Provinces  of  North 
America,  I  was  a  soldier  sworn  to  serve  with  honor  and 
with  honesty,  and  I  might  not  break  my  oath.  I  could 
not  doubt  that  Richard  Talbot  meditated  some  injury  to 
our  cause,  that  he  was  trying  to  pass  our  lines  to  stir  up 
mischief  among  the  Tories  yet  remaining  out  of  Boston ; 
it  might  even  be  that  he  bore  important  despatches,  or 
was  bent  upon  an  intrigue  with  Colonel  Guy  Johnson 
and  the  Six  Nations.  That  so  determined  a  royalist  in 
tended  anything  less  than  deadly  evil  to  the  Continental 
army  was  but  a  childish  dream.  Therefore  to  conceal 
him  or  to  let  him  escape  was  the  more  deadly  sin.  It 
would  not  only  blast  my  own  honor,  but  it  would  cast  a 
black  blot  upon  my  father,  that  stainless  patriot,  and 
upon  my  blood,  which  was  honest,  and  had  flowed  in  the 
veins  of  him  who  fought  on  Marston  Moor.  In  that 
hour  the  iron  in  my  soul  stood  me  in  good  stead,  and  I 
resisted  the  world,  the  flesh,  and  the  devil.  "  Resist  the 
Devil  and  he  will  flee  from  you,"  saith  the  Scripture ; 
and  thus  have  I  found  it  ever,  when  I  strove  with  all  the 
force  of  my  nature  to  overcome  its  weakness.  There 
could  be  no  question  of  my  duty,  but,  for  the  love  of 
woman,  I  lingered  faint-hearted  upon  the  way.  Nor 
was  it  alone  my  love  for  Joyce ;  in  that  hour  I  knew 
that  I  loved  the  lad  for  his  own  sake,  despite  his  haughty, 


A   PURITAN  CONSCIENCE.  1 5  I 

fiery  ways,  and  I  would  rather  have  placed  the  halter 
about  my  own  neck  than  his.  "  Oh,  evil  Destiny  that  led 
him  to  my  tent !  "  I  thought  in  anguish,  "  how  could  any 
mortal  man  make  this  sacrifice?"  Then  I  remembered 
the  patriarch  on  Mount  Moriah,  and  prayed  that  I  might 
be  delivered  from  this  supreme  test  of  my  allegiance. 
Yet  all  the  while  delay  brought  me  no  help,  no  ram 
was  caught  here  in  the  thicket  for  a  burnt  offering,  and 
my  conscience  told  me  sharply  that  the  hour  was  at 
hand. 

I  cast  myself  face  downward  on  the  long  grass,  and 
lay  there,  praying  with  my  lips,  but  my  heart  too  full  for 
any  thought,  while  before  me  arose  the  visions  of  the 
past.  I  saw  Dick  as  a  lad,  younger  than  I  by  many 
years,  with  rosy,  dimpled  cheeks,  and  short,  bright  curls, 
his  blue  eyes  then  so  like  the  eyes  of  Joyce.  I  saw  him 
as  I  had  seen  him  often,  barefoot  upon  the  beach,  play 
ing  with  seashells  or  digging  in  the  sands ;  I  saw  him 
again,  a  larger,  stronger  boy,  riding  bareback  upon  his 
horse,  a  daring,  graceful  rider,  with  a  heart  as  light  as 
his  temper  was  hot.  Then  I  saw  a  file  of  soldiers,  a 
tree  with  a  halter  thrown  across  its  limb,  the  chaplain 
reading  a  prayer  before  it,  the  prisoner  with  his  arms 
bound  behind  him,  and  I,  his  accuser,  his  captor !  And 
the  prisoner  had  the  eyes,  the  hair,  the  face  of  Joyce, 
and  his  blood  would  be  upon  me.  In  my  agony  I 
shuddered  and  groaned  aloud,  but  the  vision  would  not 
leave  me ;  yet  all  the  while  I  knew  that  I  was  a  soldier 
and  must  do  my  duty.  I  could  not  betray  my  cause  or 
stain  my  honor;  I  must  do  this  thing.  I  was  not  so 
poor  a  coward  as  to  shirk  at  this  supreme  hour  of  trial ; 
there  was  no  possible  evasion,  no  compromise ;  on  one 
side  were  my  duty,  my  honor,  my  honesty ;  on  the  other, 
was  the  betrayal  of  my  trust  and  my  cause.  There  could 


152  A    YANKEE    VOLUNTEER. 

be  no  choice ;  I  might  shrink  before  the  ordeal,  but  I 
was  no  less  a  man,  and  must  abide  by  my  resolution  and 
the  course  that  I  had  chosen  freely,  with  no  illusions  to 
blind  my  eyes.  If  it  was  my  lot  to  suffer,  doubtless  I 
should  find  the  strength  to  bear  it.  I  never  thought  of 
an  appeal  for  mercy ;  I  knew  his  Excellency  was  a  hard 
man  in  matters  of  discipline  and  military  government. 
Had  I  not  seen  the  soldiers  in  the  stocks  for  petty  of 
fences?  Had  I  not  seen  many  a  back  bleed  under  the 
whip  ?  I  did  not  deceive  myself  for  a  moment ;  there 
would  be  no  hope  at  headquarters. 

There  in  the  soft,  sweet  darkness,  with  the  wet  grass 
pressed  against  my  burning  face,  I  struggled  with  the 
Tempter  and  I  conquered.  I  rose  at  last,  determined 
to  do  my  whole  duty  and  no  less,  to  do  it  with  the  help 
of  Heaven,  though  it  broke  my  heart.  I  turned  my  face 
toward  the  camp,  but  moved  like  a  man  in  a  dream ;  I 
felt  that  it  was  my  own  act  that  must  sever  me  forever 
from  my  love,  that  I  went  to  break  her  heart  as  surely 
as  my  own,  and  would  henceforth  be  a  monster  in  her 
eyes.  But  an  honest  man  can  have  no  choice  ;  the  path 
of  honor  is  as  straight  and  narrow  as  the  path  of  life, 
and  I  came  of  stern  blood  that  would  more  readily  die 
than  betray  a  trust 

Slow  as  I  walked  I  came  near  to  my  tent,  but  too 
soon,  and  pausing  in  the  meadow,  stood  and  viewed  it 
with  an  aching  heart.  A  small  spot  to  hold  so  great  a 
sorrow,  so  small  that  the  gnarled  branches  of  an  old 
apple-tree  half  hid  the  side  of  it  from  view,  but  I  could 
see  the  light  streaming  from  the  door,  and  making  a 
narrow  bar  of  brightness  on  the  turf  before  it.  Ephraim 
had  left  his  post,  and  was  doubtless  with  the  prisoner,  for 
he  loved  to  talk  and  question,  and  would  scarcely  spare 
even  this  haughty  young  royalist.  I  could  not  bear  to 


A   PURITAN  CONSCIENCE.  153 

see  that  scene,  and  it  cost  me  a  mighty  effort  to  cross 
the  little  space  and  stand  at  the  door ;  but  one  glance 
within  showed  me  that  the  place  was  deserted,  and 
Dick's  sword  lay  bare  upon  the  table,  the  lamplight 
flashing  on  the  polished  blade.  My  first  sensation  was 
one  of  relief,  and  then  a  quick  anxiety  followed  upon  its 
heels.  Doubtless  the  tent  had  been  visited  by  one  of 
the  other  officers,  and  Dick  had  gone  with  him  to  head 
quarters.  No  longer  dazed  with  trouble  but  aroused  to 
action,  I  went  on  at  once  toward  the  Common,  inquir 
ing  of  the  first  sentry  that  I  met  if  Ephraim  had  passed 
that  way.  Receiving  a  negative  reply,  I  pushed  my  in 
quiries  at  Cambridge,  but  everywhere  met  only  a  baffling 
want  of  information.  So  perplexed  was  I  by  this,  that  it 
was  above  an  hour  before  I  was  satisfied  that  Dick  had 
not  been  taken  to  headquarters  and  that  he  and  Ephraim 
had  vanished. 

I  went  back  at  last,  alone,  to  my  quarters,  and  found 
them  yet  vacant  and  undisturbed,  although  the  sentry 
passed  at  intervals  upon  his  round.  My  first  care  was  to 
conceal  Dick's  sword,  and  then,  extinguishing  the  light, 
I  went  forth  again  and  sought  Minot  and  his  prisoner 
through  the  lines.  Here  too  was  I  baffled ;  neither  of 
them  had  been  seen,  and  Ephraim 's  well-known  figure 
could  not  escape  notice  in  any  part  of  the  camp.  I 
went  the  whole  length  of  the  lines,  but  with  no  better 
result,  and  was  forced  at  last  to  return  to  my  starting- 
point  and  abide  the  issue.  I  threw  myself  upon  the 
ground  beneath  the  apple-tree  that  grew  by  the  tent 
door,  and  lay  there  in  the  darkness  looking  upward  at 
the  countless  stars.  I  could  not  read  the  riddle  of 
Ephraim's  conduct,  but  knew  well  that  he  would  never 
let  his  prisoner  evade  him  ;  and  there  had  been  no  scuffle 
in  my  tent,  not  even  the  book  that  I  had  laid  face  down- 


154  A    YANKEE    VOLUNTEER. 

ward  on  the  table  was  disturbed.  Suspense  is  bitter, 
far  more  bitter  than  the  deadly  assurance  of  our  own 
misery,  and  I  endured  it  through  the  night,  for  Ephraim 
came  not,  and  my  sleepless  eyes  saw  darkness  fold  its 
wings  before  the  soft,  slow  dawning  of  another  day. 


CHAPTER  XXI. 

I   SURRENDER  MY   SWORD. 

WHEN  prayers  were  read  that  morning,  I  sought  for 
Ephraim  ;  thinking  surely  that  he  would  be  at  his  accus 
tomed  post,  but  once  more  was  disappointed.  His 
familiar  face  was  absent  from  the  ranks,  and  I  listened 
to  our  worthy  chaplain  with  but  an  inattentive  mind, 
my  thoughts  being  with  those  two,  so  strangely  vanished. 
It  was  a  problem  difficult  to  solve,  and  I  was  slow  to 
grasp  its  full  significance. 

It  being  my  duty  to  report  for  orders  at  headquarters, 
it  was  full  noontide  before  I  was  free  to  pursue  my  in 
quiry,  which  again  was  profitless ;  therefore,  at  the  first 
opportunity,  I  set  out  toward  our  pickets  on  the  Mystic 
in  quest  of  information. 

My  road  lay  through  Inman's  woods  to  Mount  Pisgah, 
and  I  went  on  foot.  My  errand,  being  an  anxious  one, 
was  over-irksome,  and  I  walked  but  slowly,  twice  pass 
ing  orderlies  riding  post-haste  to  Cambridge  from 
General  Greene,  who  commanded  at  the  Hill ;  but  no 
one  travelled  in  my  direction,  and  I  came  alone  to  the 
woodland,  and  had  proceeded  but  a  little  way  among 
the  trees,  before  I  saw  a  figure  coming  toward  me  that 
could  not  be  mistaken.  It  was  Ephraim,  his  boots 
fallen  a  little  lower  on  their  journey  to  his  ankles,  his 
drab  breeches  and  green  coat  in  their  familiar  shape, 
and  his  hat  as  ever  set  awry.  He  was  walking  calmly, 
one  hand  thrust,  as  usual,  in  his  pocket,  the  other  bal- 


156  A    YANKEE    VOLUNTEER. 

ancing  his  musket  on  his  shoulder,  and  his  expression 
composed  enough  to  dash  my  most  profound  suspicions. 
At  the  sight  of  me,  he  broke  out  in  song,  waking  the 
echoes  with  his  lusty  notes,  — 

" '  Boston,  be  not  dismayed, 
Tho'  tyrants  now  oppress ; 
Tho'  fleets  and  troops  invade, 
You  soon  will  have  redress: 
The  resolutions  of  the  brave 
Will  injured  Massachusetts  save.'  "  * 

Thus  far  he  sang,  but  no  more,  for  I  came  up  with 
him,  and  stayed  his  music  with  an  authoritative  gesture, 
being  justly  angered  at  his  want  of  deference  to  my  rank  as 
his  superior,  and  his  indifference  to  my  natural  anxiety. 

"  Minot,"  I  said  sharply,  "  where  is  my  prisoner?" 

Ephraim  stood  composed,  and  rubbed  his  chin  thought 
fully  as  he  looked  at  me. 

"  I  thought  he  was  my  prisoner,"  he  remarked  slowly ; 
"  leastways,  it  seemed  so." 

"  Mine,"  I  replied  testily,  "  since  I  am  your  superior 
officer  and  you  surrendered  him  to  me." 

"  Oh,  that 's  the  way  of  it,  is  it  ?  "  he  said  with  imper 
turbable  serenity.  "  I  have  n't  got  into  your  new-fangled 
notions  here  yet.  But  it 's  no  use  quarrelling  about  it, 
Mr.  Allen,  for  he  is  n't  anybody's  prisoner  now,  that  I 
know  of." 

"  What  do  you  mean  ?  "  I  cried ;  "  what  have  you  done 
with  the  lad?" 

A  sudden  sharp  fear  of  a  spy's  fate  beset  me,  and  how 
might  I  know  what  this  strange  creature  had  done  ? 

Ephraim  lowered  his  gun  from  his  shoulder,  and  set 
ting  it  upon  the  ground,  leaned  upon  it,  unruffled  by  my 
impatience. 

1  "  fissex  Gazette." 


/  SURRENDER  MY  SWORD.  157 

"  Well,"  he  said  calmly,  "  it  appeared  to  me  that  he 
was  too  young  to  be  out  of  Boston.  I  thought  it  over, 
and  I  concluded  that  likely  as  not  he  meant  some  mis 
chief,  and  he  is  a  handsome  lad  and  a  brave  one ;  I  saw 
him  fight  at  Breed's  Hill.  Another  thing,  you  know  that 
our  colonel  up  there,"  jerking  his  thumb  toward  Cam 
bridge,  "  is  a  severe  man,  and  a  rope  about  a  fellow's 
neck  is  n't  comfortable  —  '  Here  he  paused,  and  taking 
off  his  hat,  wiped  his  forehead  leisurely,  avoiding  my 
glance. 

"  In  Heaven's  name,"  I  exclaimed  passionately,  "  what 
have  you  done?" 

"  1  '11  tell  you  presently,  Mr.  Allen,"  he  replied  with 
dignity.  "  I  thought  of  all  this,  and  knew  you  liked  the 
boy.  Well,  sir,  to  make  a  long  story  short,  I  took  him 
through  our  pickets  as  slick  as  an  eel,  and  passed  him 
over  to  the  lobster  backs  at  the  Neck." 

For  a  moment  I  looked  at  him  in  silence,  utterly  con 
founded,  and  he  returned  my  gaze  undisturbed  save  for 
a  twinkle  in  his  small  blue  eyes,  which  flickered  for  an 
instant  and  then  left  them  blank. 

"  Do  you  know  that  such  an  act  is  a  breach  of  dis 
cipline,  of  honor,  of  loyalty?  "  I  said  hoarsely,  my  brain 
whirling  with  contending  emotions ;  "  that  it  is  my  duty 
to  arrest  you  ?  " 

"  Is  that  so?  "  returned  the  culprit,  undismayed  ;  "  it 's 
strange  now,  the  fuss  that 's  made  over  a  small  thing  — 
just  an  act  of  charity.  I  don't  know  as  I  think  it's 
Christian  to  be  so  vindictive  against  our  enemies. 
Scripture  says  we  ought  to  love  them  ;  that 's  what  the 
parson 's  busy  teaching  us  every  day,  but  we  keep  on 
pumping  lead  into  the  midst  of  them.  Practising  and 
preaching  never  did  agree." 

I  looked  at  him  with  a  feeling  of  despair ;  here  was  an 


158  A    YANKEE    VOLUNTEER. 

incorrigible  American  citizen,  and  he  regarded  not  my 
authority,  or  the  powers  that  were  installed  at  Cambridge. 
Perplexed  and  troubled  as  I  was,  I  already  half  divined 
the  motive  of  his  deed,  and  it  touched  my  heart  with  a 
glow  of  tender  gratitude. 

"  Ephraim,"  I  said  sternly, "  you  did  this  for  my  sake, 
because  you  knew  that  I  was  interested  in  the  prisoner." 

"Maybe  I  did,"  he  replied  calmly,  "and  maybe  I 
did  n't.  I  'm  not  saying  anything  about  it.  The  lad  is 
safe  in  Boston,  and  he  promised  me  to  come  no  more 
into  our  camp  except  in  the  open,  like  a  soldier.  He 's 
a  fine  lad,  Mr.  Allen,  but  with  the  devil  of  a  temper  and 
the  tongue  of  a  shrew  —  more  than  a  man.  I  told  him 
that  if  he  'd  lived  in  old  days,  and  been  a  woman,  they  'd 
have  ducked  him  for  a  town  scold,  and  so  they  would." 

"You  have  committed  a  serious  fault,"  I  said,  unheed 
ing,  "  and  I  know  not  how  to  act,  and  feel,  too,  that  the 
blame  is  wholly  mine.  You  must  come  with  me  to  my 
quarters,  and  remain  there  while  I  see  the  proper  authori 
ties  and  get  you  out  of  this  difficulty,  as  best  I  can." 

"  Don't  be  uneasy  about  me,"  he  replied,  shouldering 
his  musket  again  and  walking  at  my  side  with  placid 
indifference.  "  I  never  found  it  wise  to  be  looking 
about  too  sharp  for  trouble." 

"  I  fear  that  you  will  find  it  without  the  seeking,"  I 
rejoined  dryly,  and  walked  on  rapidly,  with  a  full 
heart. 

I  foresaw  the  grave  and  far-reaching  consequences, 
yet  all  the  while  a  deep  joy  stirred  within  me.  Dick 
was  free,  and  though  I  must  suffer,  it  would  be  rather 
for  his  sake  and  hers  than  through  any  crime  against 
them.  And  I  would  suffer  gladly,  Heaven  knows,  for 
her  rather  than  have  tears  dim  her  blue-gray  eyes.  We 
walked  back,  without  more  talk,  to  Cambridge.  Ephraim, 


I  SURRENDER  MY  SWORD.  I  59 

calm  and  good-humored,  was  whistling  the  tune  of  the 
White  Cockade,  to  which  the  farmers  marched  at  Con 
cord.  Meanwhile  I  steeled  my  heart  to  meet  the  trial 
yet  to  come.  The  Tempter  cried  aloud  within  me  to 
hide  this  deed ;  to  let  the  darkness  and  good  fortune 
that  had  favored  it  remain  a  shield.  But  at  least  I 
was  an  honest  man,  although  it  seemed  a  weak  one  and 
a  blunderer,  yet  no  greater  treachery  should  stain  my 
conscience  or  my  name.  I  left  Minot  at  the  lines,  near 
the  Common,  and  went  on  at  a  rapid  pace  to  head 
quarters. 

I  dared  not  pause  lest  some  new  weakness  should 
betray  me  and  I  should  falter  by  the  way.  In  moments 
of  suspense  or  pain,  the  smallest  trifle  fastens  on  the 
memory,  and  the  scene  of  our  trial  is  stamped  upon  the 
heart  and  brain ;  thus  I  remember  every  detail  of  that 
hour  as  plainly  as  though  it  had  been  yesterday.  How 
hot  it  was,  when  I  crossed  the  Common ;  the  trees  gave 
no  shade  in  this  exposed  spot,  and  I  remember  the  red 
face  of  the  orderly  who  stood  before  the  general's  door 
and  saluted  as  I  approached  it ;  there  was  but  a  brief 
delay  before  I  was  admitted,  and  I  found  his  Excellency 
with  General  Putnam  and  another  officer.  The  three  sat 
at  a  table  in  the  room  used  for  an  office,  and  they  were 
in  uniform,  General  Washington  himself  having  just  re 
turned  from  his  rounds;  he  was  leaning  back  in  a 
large  armchair,  and  some  papers  lay  upon  his  knee.  The 
trio  turned  inquiring  glances  on  me  as  I  entered,  and  no 
doubt  the  gravity  of  my  countenance  aroused  their  curi 
osity.  I  saluted  them  with  composure,  and  tried  to 
speak  simply  in  answer  to  Washington's  question. 

"You  have  tidings  for  us,  Mr.  Allen?"  he  said 
courteously. 

"  Only  such   as  concern   my   own   negligence,  your 


l6O  A    YANKEE    VOLUNTEER. 

Excellency,"  I  replied  quietly.  "Yesterday  evening  a 
soldier  brought  a  British  prisoner,  an  officer  of  the 
Ministerial  army,  to  my  quarters ;  through  my  culpable 
carelessness  he  escaped  and  returned  to  Boston." 

General  Putnam  uttered  an  exclamation  of  anger  and 
amazement,  but  the  strong  composure  of  General  Wash 
ington's  face  made  it  inscrutable. 

"  I  am  astonished,  sir,"  he  said  gravely,  his  stern  blue 
eyes  searching  mine,  "  that  any  officer  of  this  army,  and 
last  of  all  your  father's  son,  should  have  committed  so 
grave  a  fault,  if  I  may  call  it  by  so  light  a  name.  But 
your  candor  in  coming  at  once  to  me  gives  hope  that 
it  was  an  error,  that  you  may  find  some  more  tangible 
excuse  than  now  appears.  The  act  itself  is  too  nearly 
allied  to  a  betrayal  of  trust  for  me  to  believe  you  capable 
ofjt." 

"Yet  such  is  the  case,"  I  replied  simply,  though  my 
face  burned  with  shame ;  "  I  can  make  no  reasonable 
excuse." 

"  The  man  is  mad,"  said  Putnam,  with  impatience ; 
"  he  talks  of  treachery  as  if  it  were  but  a  schoolboy's 
offence." 

His  Excellency  silenced  him  with  a  gesture,  and  look 
ing  at  me  earnestly,  addressed  me  in  tones  of  deep 
displeasure ;  his  unruffled  calm  making  his  anger  far 
more  imposing  than  the  quick  passion  in  the  faces  of 
his  two  companions. 

"Young  man,"  he  said  deliberately,  "you  do  not 
seem  to  understand  the  full  extent  of  your  unhappy 
negligence.  A  British  prisoner  taken  within  our  lines, 
doubtless  a  spy,  and  you  permitted  him  to  escape?  I 
cannot  understand  such  a  breach  of  duty;  you  must 
explain  it  or  suffer  the  consequences." 

"  I  cannot  plead  any  extenuation  of  my  unhappy  con- 


/  SURRENDER  MY  SWORD.  i6l 

duct,  your  Excellency,"  I  replied  sadly.  "  I  regret  it  the 
more  deeply  because  of  the  reflection  upon  my  father's 
spotless  name,  but  he  is  innocent.  I  deplore  my  own 
negligence,  and  I  am  willing  to  suffer  my  just  punish 
ment.  My  sword  is  at  your  disposal; "  and  I  unbuckled 
it  and  laid  it  on  the  table,  and  stood  back  with  folded 
arms,  my  eyes  upon  the  ground,  though  I  saw  it  not,  for 
a  mist  obscured  my  sight.  Neither  did  I  hear  what 
passed  between  the  general  and  his  officers,  for  they 
spoke  apart,  and  when  he  addressed  me  again,  I  awoke 
as  from  an  evil  dream  and  heard  his  voice,  strangely 
stern  and  cold. 

"  I  regret  it  deeply,  Mr.  Allen,"  he  said  slowly,  look 
ing  all  the  while  in  a  searching  manner  at  my  face, 
"  but  I  must  place  you  under  arrest,  until  this  matter  is 
investigated." 

I  bowed  gravely  without  replying,  for  my  utterance 
was  choked.  An  agony  of  shame  overwhelmed  me,  and 
I  felt  myself  a  culprit,  disgraced  forever  in  my  own  eyes 
and  unworthy  of  my  father's  name.  What  followed  is  con 
fused.  I  know  only  that  the  officer  in  attendance,  Colo 
nel  Gardner,  went  with  me  to  a  house  near  the  college, 
where  I  was  placed  in  charge  of  yet  another  officer 
to  await  the  inquiry  that  would  be  made  at  once,  so 
they  told  me.  I  was  under  arrest,  but  treated  with 
courtesy,  and  presently  found  myself  alone  in  an  upper 
chamber,  where  I  was  left  to  my  meditations,  which  were 
miserable  enough  and  a  sufficient  punishment.  I  had 
but  the  one  consolation  that  I  had  done  my  duty,  as  I 
knew  it,  and  without  betraying  Ephraim,  whose  greatest 
fault  was  his  attachment  to  my  person,  which  had  induced 
him  to  save  Dick  Talbot  and  to  spare  me  the  dreadful 
necessity  of  giving  up  the  lad  to  military  justice.  Now 
that  all  was  over,  the  struggle  ended,  a  dull  relief  came 


1 62  A    YANKEE    VOLUNTEER. 

to  my  overtaxed  brain  and  heart,  and  I,  who  had  not 
slept  all  through  the  summer  night,  sank  down  in  a 
chair  by  the  table,  and  crossing  my  arms  upon  it,  laid 
my  head  down  on  them,  and  slept  like  a  child,  without 
a  dream,  as  we  sleep  sometimes  when  despair  has 
brought  its  cold  certainty  to  end  our  feverish  suspense. 


CHAPTER  XXII. 
EPHRAIM'S  VICTORY. 

WHEN  I  awoke  from  my  deep  sleep,  it  was  late  in  the 
afternoon  and  the  sun  slanting  in  the  western  windows 
had  flooded  the  room  with  light  and  heat.  From  where 
I  sat,  I  commanded  a  view  of  the  Common,  and  could 
see  the  small  squads  of  soldiers  gathered  here  and  there, 
conversing  together.  In  the  distance  a  drum  was  beat 
ing.  There  was  no  breeze  stirring,  and  the  white  flag  of 
the  Massachusetts  Bay  hung  in  heavy  folds  upon  its  staff 
above  the  tents  beyond  the  Common.  I  looked  at  it 
with  sad  eyes,  —  the  white  flag  with  the  green  pine-tree 
and  its  motto,  "  Appeal  to  Heaven."  It  was  sacred  to 
me,  yet  here  was  I  under  arrest,  charged  with  disloyalty 
—  nay,  perhaps,  a  blacker  crime  —  against  the  province 
and  the  cause.  I  had  need  of  reflection,  for  I  was  likely 
soon  to  be  in  a  yet  more  sorry  plight.  Doubtless  I 
should  be  tried  by  court-martial ;  for  less  offences,  they 
tried  our  sentries,  —  if  they  but  spoke  with  the  guards  of 
the  enemy,  they  were  cited  before  the  military  tribunal,  — 
and  my  conduct  was  far  more  reprehensible.  Awaking 
from  forgetfulness,  my  troubles  rushed  upon  me  with 
redoubled  force,  and  the  change  from  yesterday  to  to 
day  seemed  too  miserable  to  be  reality.  Then  I  had 
been  well  considered  by  my  comrades,  even  regarded  as 
an  authority  by  the  men  from  Essex  County,  who  knew 
and  loved  my  father;  now  I  was  a  prisoner  in  fact,  if 
not  in  rigid  confinement,  and  I  saw  no  way  to  escape 


1 64  A    YANKEE    VOLUNTEER. 

honorably  the  penalty  of  my  own  weakness,  for  it  was  that 
which  had  betrayed  me.  But  the  sharpest  sting  of  all 
was  the  injury  to  my  father,  whom  I  loved  so  well.  That 
his  son  should  be  tried  by  court-martial  on  such  a  charge 
would  be  a  blow  too  hard  for  him  to  bear  with  fortitude, 
and  being  so  near  to  him  in  sympathy  and  affection,  I 
knew  also  his*  pride  in  his  only  son,  the  bearer  of  his 
own  untarnished  name.  That  my  conduct  must  seem 
to  him  ingratitude,  was  bitter  indeed ;  I  knew  so  well 
his  unfaltering,  simple  nature,  his  unflinching  truthful 
ness,  his  loyalty,  that  it  was  not  difficult  to  know  the 
light  in  which  he  would  regard  my  confession.  The 
blood  of  the  old  Puritan  that  stirred  within  him  supplied 
that  one  hard  element  in  his  fine  character  that  would 
make  him  unrelenting  in  his  judgment  of  a  breach  of 
honor  or  of  duty. 

It  was  a  black  hour,  and  I  bore  it  with  what  patience 
I  could  summon,  putting  aside  my  weakness,  and  order 
ing  my  heart  to  endure  its  trial.  Time  dragged  with 
leaden  feet,  and  I  sat  there  watching  the  shadows 
lengthen  as  the  sun  sank  in  the  western  sky.  Near  my 
window  on  a  lower  roof  some  pigeons  had  alighted,  and 
the  pretty  creatures  strutted  about  there  in  the  sunshine, 
cooing  softly  to  each  other ;  white  were  they,  with  gray 
and  brown  upon  their  wings,  and  circles  of  purple  about 
their  throats,  which  now  and  then  showed  warmer  tints 
when  a  ray  of  light  slanted  full  upon  them.  Then  be 
fore  me  came  the  thought  of  Joyce,  and  I  wondered  how 
it  fared  with  her  in  Boston,  —  if  she  was  gay  there,  sur 
rounded  by  admirers.  The  officers  had  doubtless  leisure 
enough  to  pay  their  court  to  her,  since  we  heard  stories 
of  the  plays  going  on  at  Faneuil  Hall,  though  the  town 
was  sore  pressed  and  suffering  from  lack  of  provisions. 
How  thought  she  of  her  rebel  lover?  With  indifference, 


EPHR AIM'S   VICTORY.  165 

perhaps,  and  certainly  with  scorn,  so  that  if  the  tidings  of 
my  present  plight  should  reach  her,  she  would  regard  it 
only  as  a  just  requital  of  my  disloyalty  to  the  king.  She 
would  say  that  he  who  served  an  evil  cause  must  look 
for  an  ill  reward ;  that  as  I  had  sown,  so  would  I  reap. 
I  could  see  her  as  she  would  look  in  speaking  thus,  so 
well  I  knew  her  ways,  and  the  quick  flash  in  those 
changeful  eyes  of  hers.  Yet  I  was  suffering  for  her  sake, 
since,  had  I  done  my  duty,  Ephraim  would  never  have 
had  the  opportunity  for  my  undoing ;  but  I  was  thankful 
still  that  the  lad  had  escaped  a  spy's  fate.  The  thought 
of  making  Minot  a  scapegoat  for  my  sins  did  not  enter 
my  mind  for  a  moment ;  I  knew  too  well  where  lay  the 
fault  to  charge  it  on  another,  and  far  be  it  from  me  to 
betray  any  man  to  save  myself  from  the  consequence  of 
my  own  errors  and  sins.  Let  each  man  bear  his  burden, 
say  I,  and  bear  it  with  a  clean  heart,  not  seeking  to  lay  it 
on  another's  shoulders ;  which  is  the  way  of  cowards  and 
knaves,  but  not  of  true  men.  Yet  my  situation  was  very 
grievous.  I  had  a  young  man's  hopes  and  high  ambitions, 
and  I  seemed  to  see  their  utter  ruin  and  destruction ;  I, 
who  had  hoped  to  stand  upon  the  roll  of  honor,  was 
likely  now  to  be  dismissed  from  the  army,  or  receive  a 
yet  heavier  sentence,  since  my  loyalty  would  be  but  too 
sharply  questioned.  I  was  then  too  ignorant  of  military 
laws  to  know  what  fate  might  await  me,  and  the  uncer 
tainty  increased  my  uneasiness.  Lost  in  sad  reflections, 
I  sat  motionless  and  listless  while  the  slow  hours  passed 
away  and  the  sun  set  and  twilight  came.  It  was  un 
usually  quiet ;  only  the  distant  sounds  from  the  camp 
reached  me,  or  the  voices  of  occasional  groups  upon 
the  Common.  I  was  glad  that  there  was  no  sign  of 
activity,  since  that  would  have  been  the  drop  to  make 
my  cup  overflow. 


1 66  A    YANKEE    VOLUNTEER. 

At  last  it  grew  dim  in  my  room,  but  I  did  not  stir  to 
light  the  candles,  the  darkness  suiting  best  my  heavy 
mood.  In  spite  of  my  depression,  however,  every  sense 
was  sharpened,  and  I  was  quick  to  hear  heavy  steps  upon 
the  stairs,  and  presently  a  bright  light  showed  at  the 
crack  below  the  door  where  the  threshold  was  sunken. 
In  a  moment  the  door  was  opened,  and  an  orderly 
brought  in  some  candles  j  behind  him  came  no  less  a 
person  than  General  Putnam.  I  rose  from  my  chair 
with  more  haste  than  ease,  and  overturned  it  with  my 
usual  awkwardness ;  but  the  general  took  no  notice  of 
my  confusion,  waiting  only  until  we  were  alone  to  ad 
dress  me ;  then  he  turned  his  genial  face  full  toward  me 
and  gave  me  a  keen  but  not  unkindly  glance. 

"  Mr.  Allen,"  he  said  in  his  frank  way,  "  why  did  you 
not  tell  all  the  truth  this  afternoon?  " 

I  started,  feeling  the  blood  in  my  cheeks. 

"  But,  general,"  I  protested,  "  I  did  speak  the  truth 
—  and  to  my  own  detriment." 

"  Ay,"  he  said  bluntly,  "  and  but  few  would  have  thrust 
their  own  heads  in  the  halter,  therefore  we  are  the  more 
inclined  to  treat  your  case  with  lenity.  But  you  did 
not  speak  the  whole  truth,  sir,  and  we  deserved  no  less 
at  your  hands." 

"  I  told  you  all  that  concerned,  my  honor,"  I  re 
plied  proudly,  "or  was  likely  to  be  an  injury  to  the 
cause." 

"  I  see,"  he  answered  dryly ;  "  a  boy's  chivalry.  You 
elected  to  suffer  for  another,  but  the  sacrifice  is  happily 
averted.  We  know  the  whole  story,  Mr.  Allen ;  that 
strange  person,  Ephraim  Minot,  has  told  us  the  entire 
truth,  as  I  take  it,  sparing  no  one,  but  in  a  way  exon 
erating  you." 

"  Then  he  has  not  told  the  truth,"  I  declared  warmly, 


EPHK AIM'S   VICTORY.  l6/ 

understanding  in  a  moment  the  simple  rustic's  generous 
action,  "  for  it  was  for  my  sake  he  did  it." 

"  Here  is  a  curious  riddle,"  exclaimed  Putnam,  with 
some  of  his  usual  impatience ;  "  why  should  the  fate  of 
this  British  officer  be  of  consequence  to  you?  I  know 
your  father,  and  I  take  you  for  an  honest  man,  Mr. 
Allen  ;  I  trust  I  am  not  mistaken." 

"  It  seems  but  useless  for  me  to  protest  my  honesty 
in  the  face  of  my  own  conduct,"  I  replied  sadly ;  "  but 
I  intended  no  injury  to  the  army." 

"  I  believe  that,  sir,"  the  old  man  said  heartily.  "  Now 
make  a  clean  breast  of  it,  Mr.  Allen ;  what  was  the  motive 
of  this  strange  entanglement?  " 

"There  was  no  motive,  only  my  weakness,  General 
Putnam,"  I  answered  with  an  effort,  yet  touched  by  his 
frank  confidence  in  me.  "  The  young  officer  was  a  friend 
of  my  boyhood,  younger  than  I,  little  more  than  a  lad, 
and  he  protested  that  he  was  no  spy.  I  believed  him, 
but  I  knew  that  no  one  else  would  credit  his  protested 
innocence,  knew  also  —  to  my  shame  be  it  told  —  that 
his  errand  must  be  hostile  to  our  cause  since  he  is  of  a 
determined  Tory  family.  Yet  withal  I  could  not  bear 
the  thought  of  betraying,  of  giving  him  up  to  military 
law.  While  I  faltered,  intending  to  do  my  duty, 
Ephraim,  prompted  by  love  for  me  and  pity  for  the 
young  fellow,  took  him  away.  But  for  Minot  there  is 
the  excuse  that  he  does  not  recognize  or  understand  dis 
cipline,  and  acts  as  his  kind  and  honest  heart  dictates, 
meaning  no  harm.  For  me  there  is  no  such  apology." 

The  general  had  listened  in  silence,  his  keen  eyes 
upon  my  face. 

"  Why  did  you  not  tell  this  story  to  General  Washing 
ton  ?  "  he  asked  sharply ;  "  a  half  truth  is  nearly  a  whole 
falsehood,  yet  I  see  your  conscience  is  a  tender  point." 


1 68  A    YANKEE    VOLUNTEER. 

"  I  desired  to  shield  Minot,"  I  said  simply,  "  whose 
fault,  I  knew,  was  really  mine." 

For  a  while  he  did  not  reply,  seeming  to  be  lost  in 
thought,  and  I  waited  with  impatience  for  his  next 
words ;  his  kindness,  which  was  unexpected,  having 
raised  new  hopes  within  me.  At  last  he  took  up  his  hat, 
which  he  had  laid  upon  the  table,  and  turned  to  the 
door,  and  my  heart  sank  like  lead ;  but  he  stopped  at 
the  threshold. 

"  Mr.  Allen,"  he  said  briefly,  "  I  am  instructed  by  the 
commander-in-chief  to  inform  you  that  you  are  at  lib 
erty  to  return  to  the  lines,  but  will  assume  no  active 
duties  at  the  front  until  further  orders." 

I  burst  out  with  my  incoherent  thanks,  protesting, 
though,  that  I  was  not  willing  that  Ephraim  should  suffer 
in  my  place. 

"The  least  said  is  soonest  mended,  sir,"  the  general 
replied  shortly.  "  Speak  not  of  the  matter,  and  be  thank 
ful  that  your  father's  spotless  honor  stands  your  greatest 
shield.  Try  to  win  such  laurels  that  this  cloud  may  be 
dispersed,  since  you  are  happy  to  escape  thus  lightly." 

Again  I  thanked  him  and  stood  beside  the  threshold, 
embarrassed  and  uneasy.  With  his  hand  upon  the 
door,  he  paused  and  glanced  at  me  sharply,  the  light 
from  the  candles  shining  full  upon  my  face. 

"Is  it  his  cousin  or  his  sister  that  you  love?"  he 
asked  abruptly. 

For  the  instant  his  full  meaning  did  not  flash  upon 
me,  and  then  the  blood  flew  to  my  temples,  and  I  felt  as 
awkward  as  a  boy.  But  catching  the  gleam  in  the  old 
man's  bright  eyes,  I  lifted  my  head  proudly. 

"  His  sister,"  I  answered  boldly. 

He  made  no  reply,  but  went  out,  and  I  heard  him 
laughing  softly  as  he  descended  the  stairs.  Yet  I  for- 


EPHR AIM'S   VICTORY.  169 

gave  him  his  jest,  since  I  knew  his  heart  to  be  as  kind 
and  generous  as  it  was  brave,  and  knew  also,  intuitively, 
that  I  owed  much  to  his  intercession,  made  doubtless 
for  my  father's  sake,  but  none  the  less  my  chief  cause  of 
deliverance  and  meriting  my  deepest  gratitude. 


CHAPTER    XXIII. 

A   TURN   IN   THE   TIDE. 

IN  the  end  I  heard  the  story  of  the  episode  from 
Ephraim  himself.  Suspecting  my  intention  of  confess 
ing  my  share  in  the  matter  and  of  bearing  the  blame,  he 
followed  me  at  a  distance,  and  seeing  me  go  to  head 
quarters  was  convinced  of  the  accuracy  of  his  own  con 
clusions.  Acting  with  his  accustomed  independence,  he 
went  to  General  Putnam  and  told  him  the  whole  story, 
garnished,  doubtless,  with  various  additions  from  his  ver 
satile  brain,  making  me  appear  in  a  far  better  light  than 
I  deserved.  Howbeit  he  prevailed  with  the  kind- 
hearted  general,  who,  in  turn,  interceded  with  his  Excel 
lency.  Weighing  the  honesty  of  my  intentions,  and  my 
father's  name  in  my  favor,  they  passed  the  matter  over 
as  lightly  as  they  could,  the  fact  that  nothing  was 
known  at  camp  being  another  point  in  my  behalf.  But 
my  chances  of  promotion,  but  lately  so  fair,  were  blasted, 
and  I  was  left  to  work  out  my  own  salvation  and 
redeem  my  fault  by  devoted  service,  —  a  punishment 
light  for  the  offence,  but  galling  to  my  stubborn  pride. 
As  for  Minot,  the  strange  fellow  so  worked  on  General 
Putnam  that  he,  too,  escaped  with  a  reprimand  and 
twelve  hours'  imprisonment ;  he  was  also  fined  for  dis 
respect  to  his  superior  officers,  but  this  I  paid  from  my 
own  pocket,  so  that  his  chastisement  was  but  nominal. 
So  close  were  the  relations  between  the  contending 


A   TURN  IN  THE   TIDE.  IJl 

armies,  that  intercourse,  often  of  an  intimate  and  affec 
tionate  nature,  was  the  bane  of  our  commanders,  and 
they  understood  the  more  easily  my  situation  and 
Ephraim's  act  of  kindness,  but  I  felt  that  I  had  lost  my 
place  in  Mr.  Washington's  regard.  On  parade  and  else 
where  he  no  longer  glanced  in  my  direction,  and  I  was 
no  more  invited  to  his  table ;  stern  and  unflinching  him 
self,  he  had  but  small  mercy  for  weakness  in  others,  and 
was  willing,  doubtless,  to  let  me  feel  the  full  weight  of  his 
displeasure.  I  tasted  in  those  days  that  followed  the 
bitterness  of  mortification,  which  belittled  too  my 
motives  ;  my  sin  had  not  been  great  enough  for  condign 
punishment,  but  it  had  overshadowed  my  prospects  of 
honor  and  repute.  Nor  was  there  any  opportunity  to 
redeem  my  error  by  some  act  of  gallantry ;  the  two 
camps  lay  quiet  save  for  skirmishes  and  firing  at  the 
outposts,  and  I  was  not  allowed  to  go  with  the  little 
party  who  seized  and  fortified  Ploughed  Hill.  For  me 
there  was  but  dull  routine,  and  time  dragged  wearily 
enough. 

In  October  we  were  enlivened  by  the  arrival  of  Mrs. 
Washington,  which  made  much  difference  at  the  camp. 
She  came  with  an  escort  of  honor,  and  was  cheerfully 
received,  especially  by  the  wives  of  the  public  men,  who 
liked  to  be  invited  to  headquarters.  There  was  much 
parade  and  gayety  to  welcome  her ;  she  driving  into  Cam 
bridge  in  her  own  carriage,  drawn  by  four  horses,  with 
black  postilions,  wearing  liveries  of  scarlet  and  white, 
which  caused  some  curious  comment ;  but  it  was  the 
fashion  then  in  the  Province  of  Virginia,  where  the 
black  slaves  were  far  more  plentiful  than  with  us  in  New 
England.  She  entertained  much  at  headquarters,  and  was 
the  means  of  comforting  many  of  the  womenfolks  who 
fretted  at  the  change  from  the  old-time  gayety  and  state 


1 72  A    YANKEE    VOLUNTEER. 

in  Boston,  where  they  had  been  wont  to  dance  at 
Province  House,  and  now  found  the  poverty  and  disci 
pline  of  the  patriot  army  but  a  poor  exchange. 

The  Virginia  riflemen,  however,  got  into  a  quarrel  in 
the  camp  which  caused  a  ruffle  one  afternoon.  They 
were  strangely  uniformed,  like  Indian  trappers,  their 
clothes  being  of  brown  holland,  wearing  a  shirt  with  a 
double  cape  upon  the  shoulders,  while  on  their  breasts 
in  large  letters  was  their  motto,  "  Liberty  or  Death." 
The  sailors  from  Marblehead  laughed  at  them,  and 
from  jest  arose  a  quarrel ;  they  came  to  blows,  and  there 
was  a  great  tumult,  for  both  parties  were  gallant  men 
and  mighty.  His  Excellency  himself  separated  the 
fiercest  combatants  ;  riding  up  when  the  quarrel  was  at 
its  height,  he  rushed  into  the  melee  and  broke  it  up. 
Then  it  was  that  he  again  found  cause  to  be  displeased 
with  me.  A  moment  before,  I  had  come  upon  the 
scene,  and  was  in  the  thick  of  it,  striving  to  quiet  the 
brawlers  ;  but  I  fear  that  he  put  a  far  different  interpreta 
tion  upon  my  presence,  since  the  Marblehead  men  were 
my  neighbors,  and  there  was  some  jealousy  between  the 
colonies.  He  came  upon  us  with  one  of  those  fierce 
outbursts,  when  he  gave  way  to  his  temper  and  drove 
all  before  him  like  a  tempest.  He  was  terrible  in  anger, 
partly,  I  think,  because  it  was  in  such  sharp  contrast 
with  his  usual  unruffled  mood.  I  have  seen  him  at  such 
moments  in  battle,  or  when  an  order  was  disobeyed,  or 
a  duty  neglected  in  time  of  danger,  and  men  shrank 
before  him,  stricken  dumb  with  amazement  and  often 
with  fear.  At  these  times  an  unfavorable  impression  went 
far  to  prejudice  him  against  an  offender ;  and  he  turned 
on  me  coldly,  when  the  affray  was  over,  and  dispatched 
me  upon  some  errand  with  a  sharp  tone  of  command. 
I  knew  that  another  black  mark  was  written  against  my 


A    TURN  IN  THE   TIDE.  173 

good  name.  It  is  ever  so ;  the  first  misfortune  brings  a 
train  of  others,  and  it  is  a  bitter  struggle  to  overcome  the 
chastisement  of  an  adverse  destiny. 

In  August  the  redcoats  had  captured  a  supply  of 
oxen  and  sheep,  and  there  had  been  great  rejoicing  at 
their  arrival  at  Boston,  but  it  was  only  a  drop  in  the 
bucket.  Soon  the  condition  of  the  inhabitants  became 
so  critical  that  Mr.  Gage  permitted  the  townspeople,  who 
so  desired,  to  depart.  But  he  would  allow  them  no 
silver  or  plate,  and  forbade  them  to  take  more  than  five 
pounds  in  money  with  them ;  and  many  were  perplexed, 
wishing  to  go,  but  dreading  to  leave  their  goods  at  the 
mercy  of  the  soldiers.  Some  that  came  forth  evaded 
the  vigilance  of  the  British,  concealing  silver  and  money 
in  their  household  chattels,  and  the  women  even  quilted 
it  in  their  petticoats ;  one  good  dame  do  I  remember 
whose  skirt  was  heavy  about  her  feet  from  being  lined 
with  spoons  and  forks  and  other  pieces  of  plate ;  and  she 
concealed  it  by  a  pretence  of  illness,  being  carried  in 
her  chair  by  her  husband  and  a  faithful  servant.  The 
Whigs  who  remained  behind  were  much  tormented,  and 
on  the  lightest  pretext  thrown  in  the  common  jail,  as 
felons ;  all  the  patriot  prisoners  suffered  great  indignities, 
being  treated  as  malefactors  and  threatened  with  the 
hangman's  noose.  Washington  remonstrated  and  threat 
ened  retaliation,  but  to  little  purpose ;  the  Ministerial 
ists  acknowledged  no  rank  save  that  derived  from  his 
Majesty,  and  they  refused  to  treat  the  colonists  as 
prisoners  of  war.  Our  worst  enemies  were  still  the 
Tories ;  they  were  ever  the  most  violent  against  us,  and 
it  was  they  who  chiefly  labored  on  the  day  that  the 
Liberty  Tree  upon  Boston  Common  was  hewn  down,  — 
a  petty  act  of  malice,  which  harmed  no  one  save  a  British 
soldier  who  was  killed  when  the  old  tree  fell. 


174  A    YANKEE    VOLUNTEER. 

The  townspeople  coming  out  brought  these  tales,  and 
the  Whigs  within  the  town  found  also  opportunities  to 
send  out  information.  I  was  ever  eager  in  my  efforts  to 
obtain  it,  in  the  hope  of  some  word  from  Joyce,  and  it 
was  through  Ephraim  that  I  succeeded.  The  maid  who 
attended  Lady  Talbot  was  related  to  a  friend  of  Minot's, 
and  thus  I  heard  that  the  Talbots  were  living  near  Prov 
ince  House  on  Marlborough  Street,  and  were  held  in 
much  esteem.  Sir  Anthony,  between  gout  and  rage 
against  the  Yankees,  was  in  an  evil  plight  and  had  been 
ill  all  summer. 

Knowing  how  short  were  the  provisions  in  the  town, 
salt  pork  and  rum  alone  being  plenty,  I  felt  a  keen 
anxiety  for  Joyce,  and  fell  to  scheming  to  find  a  way  to 
send  her  some  word  of  comfort,  to  offer  her  some  alter 
native  in  the  hour  of  extremity,  for  we  were  likely  to  dis 
tress  the  garrison  yet  more  deeply  before  the  end. 
There  was  no  chance  of  reaching  her  except  through 
Ephraim,  and  at  first  I  hesitated  to  employ  him  on  any 
errand  which  involved  even  innocent  communication 
with  the  enemy.  But  my  misgivings  were  presently 
relieved  by  his  own  announcement  that  he  was  in  the 
habit  of  talking  with  a  friend  who  came  through  the 
lines  at  Charlestown  Neck.  The  man  was  a  Boston 
Whig,  and  had  friends  and  relatives  among  the  minute- 
men  of  Massachusetts  Bay,  and  was  a  link  of  communica 
tion  with  the  city,  —  no  uncommon  thing,  —  bringing 
tidings  of  the  plans  of  the  British  to  our  men.  I  soon 
found  that  it  was  through  this  fellow,  Thomas  Basset,  that 
Ephraim  had  his  tidings  from  Boston  ;  the  two  had  known 
each  other  in  old  days,  both  having  served  with  Braddock 
and  being  warmly  attached,  as  old  campaigners  often  are. 
At  night,  when  Basset  could  evade  the  sentries,  Ephraim 
stole  over  to  Mount  Pisgah  and  returned  in  the  morning, 


A    TURN  IN  THE   TIDE.  175 

laden  with  tidings  of  the  camp  of  the  Philistines  and  of 
the  doings  in  the  town.  Many  houses  were  used  as 
barracks,  winter  quarters  for  the  men,  and  much  prop 
erty  had  been  injured  and  destroyed.  Basset  spoke 
much  of  Mr.  Howe's  sharp  discipline  in  matters  of 
dress ;  no  soldier  could  appear  on  duty  without  smoothly 
clubbed  and  finely  powdered  hair ;  their  shirts  must,  too, 
be  frilled  and  fair,  and  a  slovenly  worn  leggin  was  a 
serious  offence ;  their  scarlet  coats  were  regulated  and 
cut  by  rule,  and  each  man  was  compelled  to  wear  a  uni 
form  stock,  his  arms  and  accoutrements  must  be  shining, 
and  his  hat  neatly  bound ;  the  marines  wearing  roses  in 
the  front  of  theirs.  None  could  appear  under  arms  with 
tobacco  in  their  mouths,  and  for  serious  offences,  such  as 
plundering,  —  now  becoming  but  too  frequent,  —  the 
punishments  were  in  equal  measure ;  hanging,  and  lash 
ing  with  the  cat-o'-nine-tails,  even  extended  to  the 
receivers  of  the  stolen  property,  a  soldier's  wife  having 
received  one  hundred  lashes  on  her  bare  back  at  the 
cart's  tail.  These  things  and  the  lack  of  provisions  made 
much  discontent  among  the  rank  and  file,  and  desertions 
became  more  frequent.  All  this  showed  to  my  mind 
the  likely  consequences  of  yet  greater  troubles  ;  the  time 
might  come  when  these  men,  held  now  by  Howe's  iron 
hand,  would  break  their  bonds,  and  murder  and  riot 
would  run  through  the  devoted  town.  Yet  with  all  these 
distresses  the  Tories  were  thankful  for  the  shelter  of 
the  British  flag,  dreading  to  face  their  indignant  coun 
trymen.  Many  Tories  had  enlisted  to  defend  the  Min 
isterial  cause,  and  were  called  the  Loyal  American 
Associators,  wearing  a  white  sash  upon  the  left  arm, 
while  the  Loyal  Irish  Volunteers,  also  enlisted  Tories, 
wore  the  white  cockade.  Many  officers  in  the  Conti 
nental  army  following  General  Washington  had  assumed 


A    YANKEE    VOLUNTEER. 

the  black  cockade,  because  he  had  worn  it  on  the  day 
he  took  command  of  the  troops,  and  our  new  reinforce 
ments  would  wear  some  semblance  of  a  uniform,  the 
buff  and  blue  being  our  choice,  but  there  was  always 
a  motley  array. 

Wrought  upon  by  my  anxiety  and  Basset's  tales  of 
trouble,  I  called  upon  Ephraim  for  assistance,  telling 
him  only  that  I  desired  to  send  a  letter  into  Boston  to 
an  old  acquaintance  there,  and  he  was  ready  enough  to 
hand  it  to  his  friend,  assuring  me  that  Basset  could  be 
trusted  with  a  concern  of  far  greater  weight.  But  I  was 
mindful  that  Basset  and  my  letter  might  be  seized,  and 
wrote  nothing  of  what  was  in  my  heart;  telling  Joyce 
only  that  if  she  needed  any  service  that  I  could  render 
without  violating  my  duty,  or  if  she  desired  to  quit  the 
town,  and  I  could  be  the  means  of  bringing  her  through 
our  lines  in  safety,  she  had  but  to  command  me.  I 
could  not  forbear  to  add,  even  at  the  risk  that  other 
eyes  should  see,  that  though  she  had  forgotten  me,  I 
was  not  made  of  so  slight  stuff.  Having  sealed  the  mis 
sive  up,  I  gave  it  to  Ephraim,  and  that  night  received 
assurance  that  it  was  on  its  way  and  the  next  morning 
would  bring  me  an  answer,  if  answer  could  be  had. 
Though  I  strove  hard  to  school  my  heart  to  cool  com 
posure  and  forbade  myself  any  anticipation,  yet  I  was 
as  impatient  for  the  morrow  as  any  schoolboy  for  his 
holiday,  and  I  could  not  forbear  going  with  Ephraim 
upon  his  errand.  I  told  myself  that  I  desired  to  visit 
our  lines  along  the  Mystic ;  but  such  was  not  the  purpose 
that  awakened  me  so  early  that  I  was  stirring  when  the 
drum  beat  at  daybreak  and  was  among  the  first  that 
turned  out  to  man  the  lines.  At  sunrise,  according  to 
custom,  we  were  marched  to  prayers,  and  then  heard  the 
orders  of  the  day,  read  at  the  head  of  each  regiment. 


A    TURN  IN  THE  TIDE.  1 77 

It  was  not  until  these  formal  proceedings  were  over  that 
I  obtained  permission  to  depart  with  Minot  to  Mount 
Pisgah.  Free,  at  last,  we  sped  upon  our  errand.  We 
went  by  way  of  Inman's  woods,  Mount  Pisgah,  and 
Cobble  Hill ;  below  this  last,  the  enemy's  outposts  were 
stationed  at  Charlestown  Neck,  and  here  it  was  that 
Thomas  Basset  usually  came  through  the  sentries,  who 
were,  I  fancied,  friendly  to  him.  It  was  not  in  my 
mind  to  go  down  to  the  lines,  though  General  Putnam 
was  apprised  of  my  errand.  I  intended  rather  to  remain 
by  our  pickets,  knowing  that  any  exposure  of  our  com 
munications  with  a  Boston  Whig  would  put  a  halter 
about  his  neck,  and  that  Ephraim  could  accomplish 
much  where  I  should  only  blunder. 

We  walked  rapidly  and  in  silence,  my  mind  being  full 
of  conjectures  and  half-formed  hopes,  while  Minot  was, 
no  doubt,  intent  on  his  own  schemes. 

We  passed  our  lines  at  Mount  Pisgah,  scarcely  paus 
ing  to  exchange  greetings,  and  went  on  beyond  our 
pickets,  where  I  paused  and  let  Minot  go  upon  his 
errand.  A  light  fog  favored  our  purpose,  and  I 
waited  unnoticed,  though  within  gunshot  of  the  enemy. 
Through  the  mist  I  saw  their  intrenchments  and 
could  hear  a  fife  in  the  distance.  But  for  that  it  was 
strangely  quiet,  and  it  seemed  impossible  that  two 
hostile  camps  could  lie  so  near  and  this  calm  prevail 
between.  I  think  the  rank  and  file  had  no  great  desire 
to  fight  us :  it  is  ever  thus ;  the  enmity  lies  with  those 
who  make  the  quarrel,  not  with  those  who  fight  it.  Thus 
I  was  convinced  that  the  British  sentries  permitted  Bas 
set's  expeditions ;  it  was  no  uncommon  thing  for  one  of 
them  to  desert  to  our  lines,  and  they  doubtless  knew  that 
Basset  was  a  go-between.  He  belonged  too,  as  I 
afterwards  learned,  to  that  dare-devil  class  of  men  who 

12 


178  A    YANKEE    VOLUNTEER. 

are  ever  running  upon  such  perilous  enterprises  and 
strangely  enough  come  off  scot-free.  I  waited  there, 
that  morning,  with  an  anxious  heart,  both  from  my  an 
ticipations  and  because  I  feared  that  Ephraim  might  run 
into  danger  for  my  sake.  Having  no  knowledge  of  their 
plans,  I  did  not  dare  to  interfere  lest  I  should  be  the 
cause  of  disaster,  and  it  seemed  long  before  I  saw 
Ephraim  returning,  calm  as  usual,  and  whistling  softly 
to  himself.  At  first  I  thought  he  had  no  tidings,  but 
presently  he  thrust  a  little  letter  in  my  hand,  as  we 
walked  back  together,  and  my  heart  gave  a  great  throb 
as  I  recognized  Joyce's  handwriting  upon  the  wrapper. 
I  did  not  open  it,  but  put  it  jealously  away ;  her  letters 
were  not  for  common  eyes,  and  it  was  not  until  we  had 
reached  Mount  Pisgah,  and  Minot  joined  the  soldiers 
there,  that  I  found  an  opportunity  to  read  it.  I  walked 
back  alone,  and  when  I  reached  Inman's  woods,  paused 
by  a  great  hemlock  and  broke  the  seal  and  kissed  her 
letter  before  I  read  it ;  mayhap,  it  was  best  so,  for  that 
was  all  the  happiness,  the  rest  being  a  sharp  disappoint 
ment.  She  addressed  me  as  a  stranger ;  "  Mr.  Allen," 
she  called  me,  and  told  me  briefly,  coldly,  that  she  had 
no  thought  of  joining  the  king's  rebels  at  Cambridge. 
She  thanked  me  for  my  kindness,  but  she  would  rather 
suffer  in  his  Majesty's  cause  than  taste  great  plenty  in 
such  evil  company.  As  for  being  made  of  light  stuff, 
she  prayed  me  to  remember  that  there  were  some  who 
not  only  forgot  old  friends,  but  also  their  allegiance  to 
their  rightful  sovereign,  and  her  only  hope  was  that  the 
king's  gracious  mercy  would  spare  all  such  a  traitor's 
doom.  Below,  her  name  was  signed  in  full,  with  a  firm 
hand ;  and  that  was  all,  all  that  she  would  say  to  the 
rebel  who  was  mad  enough  to  love  her  still.  I  crushed 
the  letter  in  my  hand,  with  bitterness  of  heart,  blaming 


A    TURN  IN  THE    TIDE.  179 

my  folly  for  writing  to  one  who  so  persistently  resented 
my  faithful  attachment,  who  had  no  mind  to  spare  my 
feelings,  rather,  as  it  seemed,  delighting  in  striking  them 
with  a  sharp  lash.  Yet  through  all  I  saw  her,  wilful, 
resentful,  determined,  but  lovely,  and  bewitching  still ; 
her  dark  blue  eyes  shining,  and  the  color  of  the  wild 
rose  in  her  cheeks.  So  she  had  been  as  a  child,  so  she 
would  be  ever,  for  no  time  could  change  her  in  my  eyes. 
Nevertheless  her  letter  stung  me  and  awoke  my  pride 
anew.  I  resolved  henceforth  to  remain  aloof,  to  let  her 
feel  the  need  of  kindness  ere  I  offered  it ;  surely  so  wil 
ful  and  petulant  a  spirit  deserved  some  punishment. 
Doubtless  her  love  for  me  was  long  since  dead,  and  I 
had  attached  too  grave  an  import  to  her  momentary  re 
lenting  when  we  parted  at  the  Sign  of  the  Sun.  Then 
the  thought  of  Beresford  returned  to  torment  me  ;  if  she 
preferred  to  favor  such  a  coxcomb,  she  must  even  have 
her  will.  I  knew  that  women  sometimes  loved  such  idle 
fellows  because  it  is  such  as  these  who  have  the  leisure 
to  pay  them  court  and  dally  at  their  beck  all  day,  while 
honest  men  have  graver  employments.  These  thoughts 
but  increasing  the  bitterness  of  my  heart,  and  feeding 
the  flame  of  my  disappointed  passion,  I  found  but  little 
comfort  and  went  back  to  my  duties,  sorely  cast  down  and 
vexed.  I  found  them,  from  that  day,  more  irksome  and 
cheerless  than  ever,  since  the  light  of  hope  was  more 
and  more  obscured.  Yet  it  awoke  a  spirit  of  resentment 
in  my  bosom,  and  I  was  eager  for  the  combat  and  began 
to  fret  with  the  others  at  our  inactivity.  All  the  more 
venturesome  spirits  in  the  camp  desired  an  attack  on 
Boston,  murmuring  at  our  feeble  efforts  to  return  the 
enemy's  fire.  But  we  were  still  short  of  powder,  and  the 
time  of  enlistment  of  many  of  the  regiments  was  nearly 
out,  so  that  our  forces  were  likely  to  be  depleted  rather 


180  A    YANKEE    VOLUNTEER. 

than  increased.  The  winter,  too,  had  set  in  now  most 
severely ;  the  rivers  and  the  bay  were  frozen  over,  and 
the  snow  lay  white  upon  the  uplands,  while  the  cold  was 
biting  and  our  men  had  begun  to  suffer  from  the  need  of 
fuel.  With  the  prospect  of  the  withdrawal  of  a  large  body 
of  Connecticut  militia,  whose  term  of  service  had  expired, 
we  were  in  no  condition  to  besiege  the  town.  However, 
by  the  end  of  the  month,  fresh  stores  of  ammunition 
came  to  us  through  the  capture  of  the  ordnance  brig 
Nancy;  she  was  taken  by  Captain  Manly,  the  com 
mander  of  one  of  our  ships,  and  her  stores  were  brought 
to  us  from  Cape  Ann,  —  muskets,  flints,  shot,  and  mortar 
beds.  Great  were  the  rejoicings,  and  the  huge  brass 
mortar  was  baptized  "  Congress,"  by  General  Putnam, 
who  used  not  water  but  rum  for  the  christening,  which 
was  performed  amid  the  deafening  cheers  of  the  men. 

In  spite  of  the  weak  state  of  our  army,  the  Philistines 
remained  quiet,  though  we  looked  daily,  hourly  for  an 
attack.  They  even  permitted  us  to  commence  the  work 
of  building  a  battery  at  Lechmere's  Point  without  firing 
a  gun.  The  snow  fell  heavily  at  this  time,  and  the  cold 
was  intense  ;  but  General  Washington  pushed  on  the  work, 
and  a  causeway  was  built  across  the  marsh  to  the  point, 
and  in  the  morning  we  broke  ground  near  the  water 
side  but  half  a  mile  from  their  man-of-war.  The 
party  was  commanded  by  General  Putnam,  and  I  was 
with  them,  to  my  great  joy,  since  my  only  resource  was 
activity.  The  morning  dawned  foggy,  and  the  vapors 
from  the  ice  and  snow  rose  to  meet  the  cloud  of  mist. 
Quietly  and  swiftly  the  work  went  on,  and  it  was  not 
until  the  noonday  sun  dispelled  the  fog,  that  the  enemy 
saw  us  laboring  at  the  intrenchments ;  but  no  sooner  were 
we  discovered,  than  the  guns  of  the  man-of-war  opened 
upon  us,  and  also  a  battery  at  Barton's  Point.  Our  little 


A    TURN  IN  THE    TIDE.  l8l 

party  was  raked  with  shot  and  shell,  and  one  young 
soldier,  but  a  lad,  who  was  a  little  way  beyond  our  works 
was  struck  by  a  ball  and  stretched  upon  the  snow.  In  a 
moment  he  rose  and  strove  to  struggle  toward  us,  for  the 
order  had  been  given  to  retreat,  it  being  useless  to  sacri 
fice  the  lives  of  the  men.  I  was  watching  the  young 
fellow,  and  saw  him  sink  down  once  more  with  a  pitiful 
expression  of  despair.  The  soldiers  were  gathering  up 
their  tools,  and  all  about  me  was  the  confusion  of  re 
treat,  while  the  balls  rained  on  every  hand.  I  took  no 
thought  of  the  greater  risk ;  I  leaped  over  the  earth  and 
snow  cast  up  by  their  picks,  and  running  to  the  lad, 
lifted  him  in  my  arms,  and  struggled  back  across  the 
slippery  ground.  The  burden  was  heavy,  and  the  shots 
whirled  around  us,  while  my  feet  sank  deep  in  the  snow ; 
but  I  brought  him  up,  and  joining  the  detachment  bore 
the  lad  to  a  safe  spot,  when  the  others  were  more  ready 
to  aid  him,  and  he  was  carried  back  to  camp.  General 
Putnam  touched  my  shoulder  as  he  passed  me. 

"  A  kind  heart  brings  its  own  reward,"  he  said  in  his 
kindly  way ;  and  I  knew  that  he  had  seen  my  action,  but 
I  took  no  thought  of  it,  for  after  all  it  was  but  my  duty. 

The  next  day  an  eighteen-pounder  from  Cobble  Hill 
played  on  the  vessel,  and  it  was  compelled  to  drop  down 
below  the  ferry ;  our  works  were  then  renewed  and 
finished,  despite  the  cannonade  from  the.  enemy's  bat 
teries,  and  Lechmere's  Point,  being  thus  strongly  fortified, 
threatened  Boston. 

Not  many  days  after  this,  I  was  bidden  to  an  enter 
tainment  at  headquarters,  and  went,  not  without  re 
luctance.  I  had  been  so  steadily  overlooked  in  all 
expeditions  that  might  have  won  me  promotion,  had 
been  so  coldly  treated,  that  my  pride  was  touched.  I 
remember  that  1  entered  the  room  behind  a  group  of 


1 82  A    YANKEE    VOLUNTEER. 

t 

officers,  and  stood  alone  by  the  door  unnoticed,  as  I 

thought.  It  was  a  gay  scene ;  the  apartment  was 
thronged  with  people,  members  of  the  Provincial  Con 
gress,  judges,  lawyers,  and  everywhere  the  uniform  of 
our  officers.  The  wives  and  daughters  of  officials  and 
of  all  the  Whigs  in  the  vicinity  were  present,  and  here 
was  much  fine  dressing ;  gowns  of  flowered  brocade,  cf 
gay  satin,  of  rich  silk,  worn  over  great  hoops,  and  some 
of  them  cut  lower  at  the  bosom  than  we  country  people 
thought  modest.  Their  hair  much  powdered  was  dressed 
wonderfully  high  with  flowers  and  feathers,  and  there 
was  a  great  fluttering  of  ribbons  and  of  fans.  A  gay 
scene,  truly,  in  contrast  with  the  poorly  clad  and  poorly 
armed  camp  without,  yet  it  was  well  to  keep  up  a  show 
of  cheerfulness.  Mrs.  Washington  was  standing  near 
me,  attired  in  a  white  brocade,  much  flowered  with  great 
pink  roses,  the  overskirt  —  as  I  think  the  women  call  it 
—  being  looped  up  at  the  sides  with  roses,  and  showing 
below  a  petticoat  of  satin  brocaded  thickly  with  gold 
figures  and  worn  over  huge  hoops.  It  was  short  in  front, 
and  showed  her  high-heeled  slippers,  that  had  marvellous 
gold  buckles.  The  bodice  was  more  modestly  cut  than 
some,  though  her  neck  was  very  pretty,  and  she  wore  a 
kerchief  of  rare  lace,  so  Mrs.  Adams  told  me  ;  it  was  she 
who  afterwards  called  my  attention  to  all  these  details, 
and  asked  me  to  notice  the  pink  roses  in  Mrs.  Washing 
ton's  powdered  hair,  which  she  said  were  a  wondrous 
match  for  those  upon  her  gown.  The  great  lady  was  so 
surrounded  by  distinguished  guests  that  it  was  some 
little  time  before  I  could  address  her.  At  last  she  saw 
me  and  smiled  a  greeting  as  I  advanced,  the  others  fall 
ing  back  a  little  at  the  approach  of  a  stranger. 

"  I  am  glad  to  see  you  here  to-night,"  she  said  with 
unusual  cordiality. 


A    TURN  IN  THE    TIDE.  183 

"And  I  am  glad  to  hear  you  say  so,  madam,"  I  re 
turned  with  some  feeling ;  "  I  feared  that  I  was  scarcely 
a  welcome  guest." 

"  Nay,"  she  said,  giving  me  her  hand  with  her  sweet 
est  smile,  "  I  am  ever  happy  to  welcome  a  brave  man, 
Captain  Allen." 

This  was  the  first  I  heard  of  my  captain's  commission. 
My  simple  act,  in  saving  the  lad's  life  at  Lechmere's 
Point,  so  unworthy  of  record,  had  won  forgiveness  of  my 
former  errors,  and  the  long-delayed  promotion  was  mine 
at  last. 


CHAPTER  XXIV. 

SUSPENSE. 

ON  the  first  day  of  the  New  Year  the  Philistines  sent 
us  the  king's  speech,  made  at  the  opening  of  Parliament ; 
and  a  cruel  address  it  was  !  It  came  out  by  a  flag,  and 
was  delivered  in  due  form  and  with  all  ceremony ;  and 
when  the  text  of  it  was  bruited  about  the  camp,  the 
soldiers  were  inflamed  against  it  and  against  his  Majesty. 
Yet  it  was  not  a  strange  thing  that  the  king  should  call 
our  struggle  to  maintain  our  liberties  "a  rebellious 
war ; "  kings  love  not  the  truth  too  plainly  spoken  and 
enforced  by  cannon  shot.  But  there  was  no  touch  of 
mercy  in  his  language,  and  he  showed  that  his  hand  was 
also  against  us.  The  determination,  too,  to  hire  Hes 
sians  and  Cossacks  to  crush  his  own  subjects,  free 
Englishmen,  was  the  unkindest  blow  of  all.  That  a  king 
should  send  hirelings  to  shed  the  blood  of  his  people 
seemed  all  that  was  needed  to  sever  the  tie  that  bound 
us  to  our  allegiance.  The  anger  of  the  troops  blazed 
out  in  an  outburst  of  applause  when  our  new  flag  was 
raised  on  Mount  Pisgah  that  same  day,  with  a  salute  of 
thirteen  guns.  The,  new  banner  had  Saint  George's  and 
Saint  Andrew's  crosses  combined  in  a  blue  field,  bor 
dered  by  thirteen  stripes  of  red  and  jvhite  in  honor  of 
the  thirteen  provinces,  now  solemnly  united  in  a  league 
and  covenant ;  we  had  not  yet  the  flag  that  became 
ours  at  last,  but  this  was  the  first  symbol  of  our  union. 


SUSPENSE.  1 85 

Already  among  the  soldiers  there  was  a  desire  for  free 
dom  ;  they  no  longer  cherished  any  regard  for  the  king's 
authority.  The  arms  were  in  their  hands,  and  they  had 
no  wish  to  lay  them  down  until  our  liberty  was  an  ac 
complished  fact  and  not  an  empty  name.  When  a 
breach  is  once  made,  it  is  no  easy  matter  to  heal  it  again, 
and  the  anger  of  our  people  was  kindled  against  his 
Majesty;  they  held  him  responsible  for  the  oppressive 
acts  of  Parliament  and  of  his  ministers.  The  feeling,  too, 
that  we  had  gone  too  far  to  retreat  with  honor  or  with 
safety  was  current  amongst  us ;  if  we  surrendered  now, 
we  should  be  made  to  suffer  for  our  rebellion  against 
unjust  laws,  and  instead  of  achieving  our  redress  we 
should  but  rivet  the  chains  upon  our  limbs  and  be  rather 
slaves  than  freemen.  Thus  it  was  that  we  drifted  slowly 
but  surely  on  the  tide  that  was  to  carry  us  to  the  open 
sea  of  our  independence  ;  bought  dearly  with  tears  and 
blood,  but  remaining  a  glorious  monument  of  our  en 
deavors.  Yet  at  this  very  season  we  had  but  just  passed 
through  a  sharp  ordeal,  having  been  compelled  to  disband 
one  army  and  organize  another  in  gunshot  of  an  enemy, 
and  all  the  while  short  both  of  weapons  and  of  ammuni 
tion.  The  Connecticut  troops  had  threatened  to  mutiny 
at  one  time,  being  filled  with  discontent  and  determined 
to  depart,  even  before  their  enlistment  time  was  fully 
out;  their  conduct  disheartening  his  Excellency,  but 
they  were  sharply  rebuked  by  the  loyal  people  of  their 
own  province,  and  fresh  troops  were  sent  us.  In  the 
interim,  however,  New  Hampshire  and  the  Massachu 
setts  Bay  behaved  with  noble  fortitude  and  self-sacrifice  ; 
their  reinforcements  filling  up  all  vacant  places,  and  the 
men  coming  with  great  cheerfulness  and  promptness  at 
the  first  summons  to  the  field.  In  the  midst  of  these 
trials  and  tribulations  the  Congress  of  the  United  Col- 


1 86  A    YANKEE    VOLUNTEER. 

onies,  sitting  at  Philadelphia,  continued  to  urge  General 
Washington  to  make  an  attack  upon  Boston,  and  to  re 
gard  not  the  town  or  the  property  that  might  be  thus 
utterly  destroyed.  That  stanch  patriot,  President  Han 
cock,  seconded  their  resolution  by  his  personal  let 
ter,  although  he  had  much  estate  there.  "  May  God 
crown  your  attempt  with  success.  I  most  heartily  wish 
it,"  he  wrote,  "  though  I  may  be  the  greatest  sufferer." 
It  was  this  noble  spirit  of  self-sacrifice,  happily  ani 
mating  our  best  and  bravest,  that  made  the  struggle 
possible. 

In  spite  of  all  the  urging  of  Congress  and  his  own  de 
sires,  General  Washington  yet  forbore  to  make  the  at 
tack  because  our  strength  was  still  inadequate,  but  he 
made  a  call  upon  the  Provinces  of  Massachusetts,  New 
Hampshire,  and  Connecticut,  for  additional  troops  to 
serve  through  February  and  March,  being  determined, 
as  we  learned  later,  to  make  the  assault  in  the  spring. 
It  was  in  January  that  we  alarmed  the  Philistines,  how 
ever,  by  an  attack  on  their  outposts  at  Charlestovvn.  I 
was  with  the  party  under  the  command  of  Major  Knowl- 
ton,  and  we  set  fire  to  the  few  houses  that  remained  on 
Main  Street,  took  several  prisoners,  and  came  off  with 
safety  despite  the  enemy's  guns  on  Bunker  Hill.  It 
seemed  that  we  carried  consternation  into  Boston,  our 
attack  alarming  the  pickets  and  breaking  up  an  evening 
of  enjoyment  at  Faneuil  Hall,  where  the  royalists  were 
witnessing  their  farce,  "The  Blockade  of  Boston."  It 
was  like  to  prove  a  sorry  jest  to  them,  for  they  were 
truly  sore  pressed  by  our  forces,  and  the  town  was  a  sad 
spectacle  for  such  as  loved  the  freedom  of  their  native 
land.  Many  houses  had  been  pulled  down  for  fuel,  and 
the  churches  were  often  desecrated ;  the  Old  North 
Church,  from  whence  had  shone  the  signal  that  aroused 


SUSPENSE.  1 87 

the  country  for  Lexington,  had  been  used  for  firewood, 
and  the  Old  South  Meeting-house  was  Burgoyne's  riding- 
school  ;  insolent  soldiery  swarmed  in  the  streets,  and  it 
was  only  Mr.  Howe's  severity  that  held  license  in  check. 
Yet  they  were  gay  withal,  especially  since  the  arrival  of 
store-ships  from  Nova  Scotia  and  the  West  Indies.  After 
that,  the  demolition  of  houses  and  wharves  was  stayed, 
and  the  officers  and  men  of  fashion  among  the  Tories 
made  much  sport  of  our  rebellion,  plays  and  masques 
went  on  night  after  night ;  they  even  sent  their  playbills 
out  to  his  Excellency  and  other  officers,  in  derision  of 
our  sober  conduct.  Great  was  the  contrast;  we  were 
struggling  with  poverty  and  desperation  against  the 
tyrant,  and  it  behooved  us  to  be  grave.  We  were  for 
bidden  all  games  of  cards  or  of  chance.  "  At  this  time 
of  public  distress,"  said  the  general  orders,  "men  may 
find  enough  to  do  in  the  service  of  their  God  and  their 
country,  without  abandoning  themselves  to  vice  and  im 
morality."  Thus,  while  one  side  invoked  the  aid  of 
Heaven,  the  other  seemed  to  invite  the  machinations  of 
Satan. 

The  winter,  which  had  set  in  with  great  severity,  was 
now  open,  a  great  change  having  come  in  the  last  month, 
and  the  bay  was  free  from  ice.  We  were  still  short  of 
powder  and  artillery,  until  Colonel  Knox  brought  down 
cannon  and  howitzers  from  Crown  Point  and  Ticonderoga, 
and  we  obtained  ammunition  from  the  king's  stores  in 
New  York.  By  the  end  of  February,  preparations  were 
made  at  last  to  attack  the  town,  and  Washington  made 
requisitions  for  the  militiamen  ;  meeting  a  cheery  re 
sponse,  for  the  soldiers  of  all  sorts  and  conditions  were 
eager  for  the  fray.  The  camp  became  the  scene  of 
much  activity ;  fascines  and  screwed  hay  were  collected 
for  the  intrenchments,  and  batteaux  and  floating  batteries 


1 88  A    YANKEE    VOLUNTEER. 

were  gathered  in  the  Charles  River.  We  kept  up  a  can- 
nonade  upon  Boston  to  divert  the  enemy,  but  our  real 
purpose  was  concealed.  Many  persons  came  to  Cam 
bridge  to  witness  the  scenes;  among  them  being  my 
father,  who  was  the  more  welcome  because  I  could  tell 
him  of  my  errors  and  my  subsequent  pardon  with  a 
lighter  heart  now  that  I  was  promoted  to  a  position 
where  I  might  do  better  service  and  prove  my  loyalty 
and  zeal.  I  knew  well  that  it  was  for  his  sake  that  I 
had  been  forgiven  thus  easily,  and  fancied  he  had  al 
ready  heard  the  story  from  another  source,  though  he 
said  not  so,  but  merely  asked  me  if  I  had  any  tidings 
from  Joyce,  and  smiled  a  little  at  my  answer  even  while 
he  pressed  my  hand.  I  think  that  Joyce's  perverse  and 
haughty  temper  rather  pleased  than  affronted  him  ;  he 
thought  of  her  as  but  a  child,  and  the  memory  of  her 
pretty,  wilful  ways  amused  him  still.  But  I  had  cause 
to  think  her  more  the  woman,  and  my  heart  was  sting 
ing  yet  with  her  disdainful  words. 

It  was  one  Monday  night,  the  fourth  of  March,  that 
Boston  was  cannonaded  to  cover  our  march  upon  Dor 
chester  Heights ;  and  while  the  British  were  occupied  in 
protecting  their  own  property,  we  advanced  with  our 
artillery,  under  the  cover  of  darkness.  We  marched 
about  four  thousand  strong,  under  General  Thomas,  with 
a  train  of  carts  loaded  with  intrenching  tools  and  fas 
cines,  and  we  maintained  the  strictest  silence,  while  the 
thunder  of  our  cannon  on  the  hills  shook  the  air.  It 
was  eight  o'clock  when  we  reached  the  heights  and 
paused  a  moment  to  look  out  upon  the  scene.  At  our 
feet  lay  Boston,  all  hurry  and  confusion,  while  the  shells 
from  our  artillery  on  the  Charlestown  side  burst  high 
in  the  air  above  it,  the  red  fire  falling  like  flaming 
stars  upon  the  town.  Behind  this  stretched  the  quiet 


SUSPENSE.  189 

country,  the  lights  of  our  camps  showing  dimly  in 
the  white  light  of  the  moon.  Upon  our  right  the 
bay  stretched  out  in  quiet  beauty,  a  shining  touch  on 
every  crested  wave.  It  was  a  scene  at  once  terrific 
and  beautiful,  and  our  hearts  were  stirred  with  the 
profoundest  emotions  as  we  turned  to  our  labor  with 
devoted  energy.  When  at  last  the  moon  set,  and  dark 
ness  came  and  went,  our  works  were  bristling  upon 
the  heights.  The  mists  of  early  morning  clearing  away 
before  the  rising  sun,  revealed  us  to  the  astonished  Phi 
listines,  who  could  scarce  credit  the  evidence  of  their 
own  senses,  but  regarded  our  intrenchments  rather  as 
the  work  of  magic  than  of  a  raw  militia. 

Intense  excitement,  ay,  more  than  that,  eager  antici 
pation,  prevailed  in  our  camp.  It  was  the  morning  of 
the  fifth  of  March,  the  anniversary  of  the  Boston  Mas 
sacre,  and  we  desired  to  make  the  clay  yet  more  mem 
orable  by  a  defeat  of  the  British  forces ;  a  battle  seemed 
inevitable.  We  could  see  the  stir  in  the  town,  the  com 
motion  on  the  fleet ;  our  position  had  manifestly  roused 
our  contemptuous  enemy.  Our  guns  commanded  not 
only  Boston,  but  Castle  William  and  the  harbor,  and  it 
was  not  possible  to  ignore  us,  or  to  continue  their  diver 
sions  at  the  playhouse  ;  here  was  a  more  serious  occu 
pation  in  readiness  for  them,  and  from  the  signs  of 
disturbance  it  seemed  that  they  had  already  accepted 
the  challenge.  As  the  day  advanced,  the  heights  about 
Boston  v/ere  filled  with  spectators,  drawn  from  all  direc 
tions,  in  the  anticipation  of  a  repetition  of  Bunker  Hill. 
General  Washington  came  to  the  works  and  addressed 
words  of  encouragement  to  the  soldiers,  bidding  them 
remember  the  massacre ;  he  was  answered  by  hearty 
cheers,  for  our  men  were  in  high  spirits  and  craved  a 
trial  of  our  strength.  We  could  see  the  preparations; 


190  A    YANKEE   VOLUNTEER. 

the  regiments  of  redcoats  marching  down  to  the  wharves, 
the  dragoons  galloping  through  the  town,  the  trumpets 
sounding  to  horse,  and  all  the  panoply  of  war  glittering 
before  us,  as  it  had  upon  that  day  in  June.  But  a 
higher  will  than  man's  prevailed ;  the  wind  rose  and 
beat  upon  those  transports,  and  in  the  furious  surf  no 
boat  could  land.  We  remained  upon  the  heights,  and 
watched  them  make  effort  after  effort  to  reach  us,  but 
in  vain.  The  March  wind  howled  among  the  hills  and 
swept  the  bay  until  its  dark  waters  were  lashed  white 
in  their  fury.  The  great  ships  in  the  harbor  rolled  and 
tossed,  the  helpless  playthings  of  the  elements  ;  no  boat 
could  live  in  such  a  sea.  Our  enemies  were  forced  to 
abandon  their  attempt,  and  another  night  we  lay  upon 
our  arms,  having  strengthened  our  works  with  untiring 
zeal. 

It  was  intended  to  attack  Boston  when  the  redcoats 
made  their  assault  upon  Dorchester  Heights,  and  a 
body  of  troops  waited  at  Cambridge  for  that  purpose. 
On  the  morrow,  surely,  the  conflict  would  come,  and 
we  were  eager  for  it ;  but  the  morrow  dawned  in  a  driv 
ing  rain,  and  the  wind  still  swept  the  water  so  that  the 
enemy  could  make  no  attempt  upon  our  works,  and  we 
waited  once  more  in  vain.  But  we  knew  that  the  end 
was  at  hand,  for  our  guns  commanded  both  town  and 
harbor,  and  they  must  either  dislodge  us  or  be  de 
molished  ;  there  was  no  longer  any  possibility  of  an 
evasion.  The  thunder  of  our  artillery  from  Charlestown 
and  from  Dorchester  shook  the  houses  of  the  devoted 
town,  and  shells  were  bursting  on  every  side,  while  the 
British  returned  the  fire  from  their  intrenchments  and 
from  the  shipping ;  but  it  was  not  to  be  for  long.  On 
the  eighth  of  the  month  they  sent  out  a  flag  of  truce 
with  a  letter  from  the  citizens ;  it  bore  no  address,  for 


SUSPENSE.  191 

the  Tories  would  not  give  General  Washington  his  title, 
but  it  brought  the  tidings  that  General  Howe  was  de 
termined  to  evacuate  Boston,  and  had  promised  them 
not  to  destroy  their  town  if  he  was  permitted  to  depart 
unmolested,  and  they  begged  a  similar  assurance  from 
our  commander.  This  letter,  having  no  official  signifi 
cance  and  sent  in  so  strange  a  fashion,  was  treated 
with  the  contempt  it  merited,  and  His  Excellency  con 
tinued  to  strengthen  our  position,  planting  batteries  at 
Bird's  Hill,  and  attempting  to  seize  Nook's  Hill,  but 
that,  being  near  Boston,  was  discovered,  and  a  sharp 
cannonade  from  the  enemy  forced  us  to  abandon  it. 
But  our  guns  continued  a  ceaseless  roar,  and  it  was 
now  apparent  that  the  town  was  in  a  state  of  terror 
and  confusion ;  there  was  no  longer  any  doubt  that 
Mr.  Howe  intended  to  leave  it,  to  the  despair  of  the 
Tories. 

We,  upon  the  heights,  watched  and  waited ;  we  could 
see  them  throwing  guns  and  gun-carriages  off  the 
wharves,  and  the  horse  transports  dropped  down  below 
Castle  William.  It  seemed  that  we  were  to  have  a  blood 
less  victory,  and  there  was  a  feeling  of  disappointment  in 
our  army ;  the  men  were  thirsting  to  avenge  their 
wrongs  and  to  achieve  a  signal  triumph,  but  fate  ordered 
otherwise.  Nevertheless,  those  days  were  full  of  deep 
anxiety,  and  I  looked  down  upon  the  town  with  a  heavy 
heart ;  we  knew,  for  tidings  came  to  us  in  secret,  that 
the  Tories  were  in  sore  distress  lest  they  should  be  for 
saken  by  their  chosen  protectors,  and  my  thoughts 
dwelt  constantly  with  those  violent  royalists  the  Talbots. 
What  of  them  in  this  crisis?  Would  Dick  be  able  to 
take  them  with  him,  and  where  would  they  go?  I  waited 
and  made  no  sign  ;  had  not  my  kindly  advances  been 
rejected?  If  my  services  were  required,  they  must  seek 


192  A    YANKEE    VOLUNTEER. 

them ;  but  through  all  those  long  days  I  had  no  thought 
but  of  Joyce,  knowing,  as  I  did,  that  there  might  be 
riot  and  violence  in  the  town  ere  the  redcoats  left  it ; 
that  even  their  own  officers  might  fail  to  control  them 
at  the  last. 


CHAPTER  XXV. 

AN    OLIVE     BRANCH. 

THE  days  passed,  and  yet  the  redcoats  lingered,  and 
there  was  much  perplexity  in  our  camp.  His  Excellency 
desired,  if  possible,  to  spare  the  devoted  town,  and  there 
fore  did  not  order  a  general  assault,  hoping  to  see  the 
departure  of  the  troops.  The  British,  however,  re 
mained  inactive,  and  we,  being  but  indifferently  informed 
of  all  that  passed,  were  at  a  loss  to  interpret  the  delay. 
As  time  wore  on,  General  Washington  became  convinced 
that  Howe  was  temporizing,  in  the  hope  of  reinforce 
ments,  and  we  were  ordered  to  continue  our  works, 
advancing  constantly  nearer  to  the  town.  Preparations 
were  made  again  to  seize  Nook's  Hill,  from  whence  we 
could  throw  our  shells  into  their  stronghold,  and  a  de 
tachment  was  held  in  readiness  to  march  to  New  York, 
where  it  seemed  likely  that  the  enemy  would  endeavor 
to  gain  foothold  of  a  more  permanent  character. 

It  was  the  night  before  we  seized  Nook's  Hill,  and  a 
council  of  war  was  held  at  headquarters,  where  all  these 
matters  were  discussed.  I  had  been  all  day  on  duty 
on  Dorchester  Heights,  and  being  indisposed  had  ob 
tained  leave  to  pass  the  night  with  my  father,  who  had 
again  come  to  Cambridge,  and  I  had  reached  the  door 
of  his  lodging  when  Ephraim  Minot  suddenly  came  up 
behind  me  and  plucked  my  sleeve.  Turning,  I  saw  that 
he  was  not  alone,  but  that  a  tall  man  stood  behind 
him. 

13 


194  A    YANKEE    VOLUNTEER. 

"  I  have  a  friend  here  to  see  you,  Captain  Allen,"  he 
said  quietly  ;  but  something  in  his  voice  stirred  my  blood 
with  a  new  excitement,  and  I  bade  them  enter. 

We  went  to  my  father's  rooms,  but  found  that  he  was 
absent,  and  so  I  had  the  better  opportunity  to  see  my 
visitors.  I  had  failed  to  recognize  Ephraim's  com 
panion,  and  was  now  both  pleased  and  startled  to  find 
that  he  was  the  go-between,  Thomas  Basset.  He  had 
made  his  way  out  of  Boston  in  the  midst  of  the  dis 
orders  prevailing  there,  and,  with  Ephraim's  aid,  came 
safely  through  our  lines.  I  questioned  him  eagerly 
about  the  state  of  the  town,  desiring  rather  to  hear  of 
Joyce,  but  delaying  the  important  matter  until  the  last, 
as  we  do  when  we  have  a  purpose  lying  next  our  hearts. 
To  my  disappointment,  the  man  knew  little  of  General 
Howe's  intentions,  but  he  told  a  sorry  tale  of  the  condi 
tion  of  Boston.  He  said  that  the  inhabitants  were  well- 
nigh  at  the  mercy  of  the  lawless  soldiers,  despite  the 
orders  of  the  commander  to  the  contrary,  and  that  both 
soldiers  and  sailors  broke  open  and  plundered  private 
houses  as  well  as  stores.  It  seemed  that  Howe  had 
commissioned  one  Crean  Brush,  a  notorious  Tory,  to 
receive  all  valuable  property  and  goods  which  might  be 
of  profit  to  us,  and  to  seize  all  such  goods  that  were 
withheld  or  concealed.  Crean  Brush,  exceeding  his 
orders,  was  breaking  open  stores  and  stripping  them  of 
their  contents,  plundering  persons  of  all  conditions ;  his 
example  being  imitated  and  exceeded  by  bands  of  law 
less  men,  who  thus  found  an  apology  for  open  robbery. 
The  state  of  the  inhabitants  was  most  unhappy,  and 
smallpox  had  been  raging  in  the  town ;  beset  by  ene 
mies  and  friends  alike,  and  smitten  with  plague,  Boston 
lay  a  prey  to  every  kind  of  violence.  That  Mr.  Howe 
was  really  preparing  for  departure,  there  seemed  to  be 


AN  OLIVE  BRANCH.  195 

no  reasonable  doubt,  and  the  Tories  were  thrown  into 
yet  greater  terror  at  the  prospect  of  being  left  at  the 
mercy  of  their  indignant  countrymen.  It  was  not  until 
I  had  drawn  all  this  from  him  that  I  asked  directly  for 
tidings  of  the  Talbots ;  I  caught  a  flicker  of  amusement 
in  Ephraim's  eyes  as  I  spoke,  and  knew  that  he  had 
fathomed  my  reluctance  to  mention  them.  He  was 
strangely  observant,  in  spite  of  his  stolid  face,  and  but 
little  escaped  the  notice  of  those  small  pale  eyes.  In  a 
moment,  however,  I  had  forgotten  him,  forgotten  all  else, 
at  the  sight  of  the  little  missive  that  Basset  produced  and 
handed  me  in  silence.  I  knew  it  at  a  glance,  and  left 
these  two  and  went  to  the  mantelpiece,  to  read  it  by  the 
light  of  the  candle  that  burned  there.  It  was  but  a  few 
lines,  without  any  word  of  greeting,  but  I  knew  that  it 
had  cost  her  much  to  write  to  me  after  her  sharp  words 
of  rebuke.  "  Once,"  she  wrote,  "  you  were  good  enough 
to  offer  your  aid  whenever  it  should  be  needed.  I  am 
very  loath  to  ask  it,  but  we  need  it  now.  I  have  per 
mission  here  to  see  you,  beyond  our  pickets,  if  you  can* 
obtain  the  like  liberty.  The  bearer,  one  Thomas  Basset, 
will  tell  you  at  what  hour  and  place  I  may  meet  you. 
It  grieves  me  to  ask  this,  and  it  may  be  that  you  will 
have  no  wish  to  speak  with  one  of  us.  JOYCE."  That 
was  all,  but  knowing  her  spirit  and  her  pride,  I  knew 
how  much  it  had  cost  her  to  write  it,  and  reproached 
myself  that  I  had  let  her  be  forced  to  appeal  to  me. 
The  humility  of  it  touched  me,  not  with  triumph  at  my 
victory,  as  some  men  might  feel,  but  with  deep  tender 
ness  and  compassion  for  her.  My  proud  Joyce,  how 
much  it  must  have  stung  her  to  write  that  simple  little 
letter !  She  must  too,  be  in  some  sore  need  of  my  aid 
or  she  would  never  ask  it.  I  questioned  Basset  sharply, 
but  drew  nothing  from  him  but  the  hour,  the  next  day  at 


196  A    YANKEE    VOLUNTEER. 

sunrise,  and  the  place  for  the  meeting,  which  was  Charles- 
town  Neck,  beyond  the  very  tavern  of  the  Sign  of  the 
Sun  where  she  had  scorned  the  rebel;  but  I  bore  no 
malice,  rather  rejoiced  only  that  I  yet  might  serve  her 
with  all  love  and  loyalty.  I  found  that  Basset  was  pre 
pared  to  return  with  my  answer  to  Boston  that  night,  and 
went  at  once  to  headquarters  to  communicate  the  tidings 
that  I  had  gathered  and  obtain  permission  to  go  beyond 
our  pickets  to  hold  conference  with  some  one  from  the 
town.  The  little  information  I  had  obtained  was  eagerly 
welcomed,  and  leave  was  readily  granted  me  to  hold 
communication  with  my  friends.  There  was  much  pity 
felt  for  the  oppressed  townspeople,  and  though  the 
malice  of  the  Tories  was  naturally  resented,  the  patriots 
had  never  imitated  their  vindictiveness. 

That  night  I  slept  but  little,  though  it  was  the  first  on 
which  I  had  found  an  opportunity  to  lie  down,  for  we 
had  been  on  a  continual  stretch  of  active  duty.  I  had 
obtained  a  respite  for  the  sake  of  a  little  bodily  recuper- 
•ation,  but  my  short  sleep  was  broken  with  dreams,  in 
which  I  fancied  Joyce  in  distress  and  calling  in  vain  to 
me  for  help,  —  help  which  I  was  powerless  to  give. 

At  daybreak  I  was  up  and  dressed  for  my  expedition 
and  panting  with  impatience  for  the  hour.  It  was  Satur 
day,  and  that  night  we  seized  Nook's  Hill ;  but  then  all 
was  quiet,  no  sound  but  the  beating  of  the  drums  to  call 
the  men  out  to  the  lines.  I  went  alone,  and,  avoiding 
the  bustle  of  the  camp,  made  my  way  to  the  road  which 
led  to  Charlestown.  I  passed  our  works  at  Mount 
Pisgah  as  the  regiments  were  assembling  for  prayers,  the 
flush  in  the  eastern  sky  heralding  the  day.  When  I 
reached  the  appointed  spot,  near  the  Mystic,  I  could 
see  the  sentries  on  duty  at  the  enemy's  outposts  and 
could  hear  the  bugles  in  their  camp  at  Charlestown.  I 


AN  OLIVE  BRANCH.  197 

walked  up  and  down  beside  the  river  for  half  an  hour, 
and  began  to  fear  that  some  mishap  had  overtaken  her ; 
but  at  last  I  saw  two  figures,  a  man  and  a  woman,  com 
ing  toward  me,  and  hastened  to  meet  them.  The  man 
was  Basset,  and  the  cloaked  and  hooded  form  beside  him 
I  recognized  at  a  glance.  She  left  her  escort  and  came 
alone  to  meet  me,  I  thought  with  some  reluctance ; 
doubtless  she  felt  keenly  that  she  must  now  appeal  for 
help  to  the  Yankee  she  had  so  often  rebuked.  Never 
theless,  when  I  held  out  my  hand  in  eager  greeting,  she 
let  hers  rest  in  it  an  instant,  and  I  thought  I  caught  the 
old  Joyce  looking  out  from  her  gray-blue  eyes.  But  the 
change  in  her  sweet  face  smote  me  sharply;  she  was 
pale,  and  soft  shadows  lay  beneath  her  eyes,  and  I  knew 
that  these  last  weeks  had  been  full  of  anxiety. 

"  Joyce,"  I  said  gently,  and  could  not  keep  the 
tender  tone  out  of  my  voice,  "your  note  was  full  of 
doubt  that  I  would  be  willing  to  serve  you  —  have  I 
deserved  this  at  your  hands?" 

"  Nay,"  she  answered  with  a  falter  in  her  tones ;  "  but 
we  deserve  nothing  from  yours." 

"  I  would  endure  much  evil  usage  from  you  and  for 
give  it,"  I  rejoined  quietly ;  "  but  tell  me  how  I  can  aid 
you  now." 

"  First,  I  must  thank  you,"  she  said  earnestly,  bearing 
herself  with  a  dignity  that  reminded  me  of  our  estrange 
ment.  "  I  have  but  lately  heard  of  Dick's  escape  from 
your  camp.  He  did  not  tell  me,  and  my  letter  —  my 
first  letter  to  you,"  her  voice  played  her  false  once  more, 
faltering  softly,  "  must  have  seemed  cruelly  ungrateful 
and  unjust.  You  know  how  earnestly  we  thank  you  for 
his  safety." 

I  felt  a  sharp  pang  of  remorse  and  regret  when  I 
thought  of  all  that  my  duty  would  have  forced  upon  me. 


198  A    YANKEE    VOLUNTEER. 

"  I  do  not  deserve  your  thanks,"  I  said  briefly ;  "  it 
was  a  rustic  soldier,  Ephraim  Minot,  who  released  your 
brother  in  my  absence.  It  — 

She  interrupted  me  with  an  impatient  gesture. 

"  Ay,"  she  said  quickly,  "  I  know  your  way,  of  old ; 
you  never  yet  desired  thanks  or  praise  —  but  I,  having 
Dick  safe  and  sound,  know  whom  to  think  of  with  grati 
tude.  And  now  I  have  come  to  my  petition.  My 
father  is  ill,  too  ill,  it  seems,  to  go  on  shipboard.  You 
know  that  Mr.  Howe  is  likely  to  evacuate  the  town,  and 
we  must  either  go  with  him  or  fall  into  the  hands  of  our 
enemies." 

"  Your  enemies,  Joyce  ?  "  I  exclaimed  reproachfully. 

"  Ay,  sir,"  she  said  proudly,  "  the  king's  enemies  are 
ours." 

"  I  never  thought  to  bear  that  name  to  you,"  I  re 
joined  quietly. 

She  glanced  at  my  uniform  of  buff  and  blue,  and  at 
the  black  cockade  upon  my  hat. 

"  You  wear  the  livery  of  the  rebels,"  she  said  coldly ; 
"  that  cockade  should  be  of  white  —  to  show  the  purity 
of  your  loyalty.  Black  is  suitable,  since  one  who  serves 
so  poor  a  cause  should  wear  mourning  for  his  errors." 

"The  cause  of  my  country,"  I  replied  simply;  "  but 
let  us  not  quarrel  for  a  poor  cockade.  I  can  aid  you  — 
I  will  find  means  to  protect  you  in  Boston  ;  but,  Joyce, 
you  must  leave  it,  for,  unless  the  redcoats  go,  we  shall 
bombard  the  town." 

"  Alas,"  she  said,  "  when  you  do,  Mr.  Howe  will  burn 
it,  so  they  say  ;  and  already  Crean  Brush  is  seizing  all  the 
merchants'  goods." 

"Yet  you  call  Mr.  Howe  a  just  man  !  "  I  said  bitterly; 
"  rather,  say  I,  a  tyrant." 

She  bit  her  lip,  and  her  cheeks  flushed. 


AN  OLIVE  BRANCH.  199 

"  We  will  not  talk  of  him,"  she  replied.  "  I  came  to 
pray  that  you  would  ask  your  commander  for  a  passport, 
that  we  may  take  my  father  to  our  home  at  Marblehead. 
Dick  goes  with  the  army,  and  mother  and  I  are  left  to 
fight  our  own  battles.  Father  knows  not  of  my  errand, 
nor  does  Dick — both  would  never  consent  to  an  appeal 
to  your  army  ;  but  we  must  go  home  if  we  may." 

"  You  shall,  if  I  have  any  power  to  win  the  passport," 
I  said  earnestly,  "  and  I  wish  that  you  might  go  at  once. 
But  when  we  enter  the  town,  I  will  protect  you.  Mean 
while  lawlessness  may  reign  supreme.  Joyce,  I  pray 
that  you  and  your  mother  will  find  means  to  come  out 
to  us  at  once." 

"  Nay,"  she  said  coldly,  "  I  have  no  more  cause  lo 
fear  the  king's  soldiers  than  yours,  and  we  will  stay  while 
our  flag  still  floats  above  us." 

"  You  despise  us  still,  I  see,"  I  replied  proudly ;  "  but 
you  have  no  cause  to  scorn  men  who  are  fighting  for 
their  country  and  yours,  Joyce,  for  you  are  no  English 
woman." 

"  I  am  a  loyal  subject  yet,"  she  said,  averting  her  eyes, 
"  and  I  will  be  ever." 

"  And  you  have  no  kindness  for  a  man  who  believes 
in  the  cause  that  he  has  espoused?"  I  asked  her  in  a 
low  voice,  and  saw  the  telltale  color  creeping  up  to  her 
soft  hair. 

"  I  hear  you  are  a  captain  in  the  rebel  army,  sir,"  she 
replied  abruptly,  with  a  quick  glance  from  under  her 
long  lashes. 

"  I  am  the  same  man  who  has  loved  you  all  these 
years,  dear  Joyce,"  I  whispered  softly,  touching  her  hand, 
but  she  withdrew  it  quickly. 

"  Nay,  Captain  Allen,"  she  said,  catching  her  breath, 
"  I  will  not  appear  to  pardon  conduct  that  I  condemn, 


200  A    YANKEE    VOLUNTEER. 

because  I  have  come  to  sue  for  a  favor.  I  will  be  just 
as  true  to  my  sense  of  duty  as  you  are  to  yours.  I 
have  asked  a  favor,  because  I  know  that  you  are  just 
and  kind;  but  I  do  not  ask  it  for  the  sake  of  our  —  of 
our — "  She  broke  off  in  confusion. 

"  Of  our  old  love  for  each  other,"  I  said  sadly.  "  Nay, 
Joyce,  I  make  no  claims  for  old  acquaintance.  You 
shall  have  my  utmost  service,  and  I  will  remember  that 
you  scorn  the  rebel  still ! " 

"  I  thank  you,  sir,"  she  said  gravely,  and  held  out  her 
hand  in  farewell,  for  already  Basset  had  signalled  twice 
that  the  time  was  up. 

"  Farewell,  Joyce,"  I  said  gently,  and  I  could  not 
resist  the  temptation  to  kiss  the  little  gloved  hand  I 
held,  although  I  felt  it  a  contemptible  weakness.  "  I 
hear  that  you  are  likely  to  wed  a  soldier  of  your  king's 
—  may  you  be  happy." 

She  drew  her  hand  away,  not  unkindly,  and  walked  a 
few  steps  from  me ;  then  she  turned  suddenly,  and  I  saw 
her  blue  eyes  with  a  sparkle  of  mischief  in  them. 

"Unhappily  for  my  future,  sir,"  she  said,  "I  am 
wicked  enough  —  base  enough  —  to  —  to  love  a  rebel !  " 

I  sprang  toward  her,  but  she  had  turned  and  darted 
down  the  path,  swift  as  a  bird,  and  Basset  called  to  me 
to  come  no  nearer  to  the  lines.  This  would  not  have 
checked  me  but  that  she  turned  and  signed  to  me  to 
come  no  farther,  and  I  saw  a  British  sentry  advancing  to 
meet  them  ;  so  I  could  do  nothing  but  retreat,  not  wish 
ing  to  encumber  her  with  my  presence.  But  my  heart 
beat  fast,  while  I  stood  and  watched  until  her  slight 
figure  disappeared  behind  the  hill  and  I  was  left  alone 
beside  the  river. 


CHAPTER  XXVI. 

SIR   ANTHONY   AT    BAY. 

ON  Sunday  morning  the  Philistines  began  to  embark ; 
we  had  seized  Nook's  Hill  the  night  before  and  held  it, 
despite  their  cannonade.  It  was  no  longer  possible  for 
them  to  remain  in  Boston,  since  we  could  now  shell  the 
town  at  too  close  quarters ;  an  attempt  to  hold  out  against 
us,  would  have  caused  great  loss  of  life  and  been  without 
result.  From  our  works  we  could  see  their  movements 
upon  the  wharves,  and  watched  many  of  the  inhabitants 
crowding  into  boats,  as  well  as  the  soldiers.  The 
Tories  dreaded  to  meet  us,  more  than  did  the  redcoats, 
and  there  was  a  general  flight.  At  the  first  signs  of 
evacuation,  our  troops  paraded,  and  a  detachment,  under 
General  Putnam,  went  in  boats  on  the  Charles  River  to 
Sewall's  Point,  where  they  could  reconnoiter  Bunker  Hill. 
We  had  seen  the  redcoats  marching  out  of  their  fortifica 
tions,  but  thought  that  their  sentries  were  yet  on  duty.  It 
was  some  time  before  we  discovered  that  these  figures  at 
their  posts  were  but  wooden  images  and  that  the  fort  was 
empty.  Our  troops  took  possession  with  great  joy,  and 
our  colors  once  more  floated  over  that  height  where 
so  much  patriot  blood  was  shed.  All  these  things  I 
learned  from  hearsay,  for  on  that  morning  I  was  at  Dor 
chester,  with  the  troops  under  Colonel  Ebenezer  Learned, 
who  advanced  upon  Boston  from  that  direction. 

The  British  had  commenced  their  embarkation  at  four 
o'clock  in  the  morning,  and  at  sunrise  the  harbor  was 


202  A    YANKEE    VOLUNTEER. 

crowded  with  their  transports  and  ships.  We  remained 
there  at  our  works  on  the  heights  and  watched  in  silence. 
Not  a  shot  was  fired ;  we  spared  the  inhabitants  and  the 
fugitives.  It  was  said  later  that,  had  we  fired,  they 
would  have  burned  the  town,  all  being  in  readiness 
for  a  conflagration.  General  Washington  desired,  how 
ever,  to  spare  bloodshed  and  to  permit  the  property  of 
our  loyal  Massachusetts  patriots  to  remain  untouched. 
It  was  a  strange  sight  to  look  down  upon  that  harbor, 
crowded  with  their  shipping,  and  upon  the  town,  and  to 
behold  the  flower  of  the  royal  army  in  such  dire  distress. 
Men  rushed  about  as  if  possessed  with  madness ;  women 
and  children  were  huddled,  like  sheep,  upon  the  wharves, 
while  anxious  Tories  strove  to  bring  away  their  goods. 
The  flash  of  arms,  the  scarlet  coats  mingled  in  the  med 
ley,  but  there  was  no  military  display  ;  it  was  rather  a  pre 
cipitate  flight  than  a  retreat,  and  the  desire  to  escape 
seemed  to  animate  all  with  a  common  impulse.  We 
could  have  smitten  them,  in  their  confusion,  and  in 
flicted  a  heavy  loss,  but  such  was  not  the  spirit  that 
glowed  in  the  bosoms  of  the  colonists. 

By  ten  o'clock  the  enemy  was  embarked,  and  we 
marched  across  Boston  Neck  with  beating  drums,  young 
Ensign  Richards  bearing  the  standard.  We  were  forced 
to  move  with  great  caution  and  deliberation,  for  our  way 
was  strewn  with  crow's-feet  that  they  had  thrown  about 
to  retard  the  advance  of  an  attacking  army.  We  found 
their  works  marvellous  strong  here,  and  built  with  care 
and  regularity,  and  it  seemed  improbable  that  we  could 
have  forced  them ;  on  every  hand  were  guns,  spiked 
before  the  enemy  departed,  and  gun-carriages  broken 
in  pieces.  The  work  of  destruction  had  been  hasty, 
and  all  the  wreckage  presented  a  gloomy  spectacle. 
Here  were  broken  shells  and  shots,  half  buried  in  the 


S/X  ANTHONY  AT  BAY.  2O3 

ground,  the  whole  scene  telling  its  own  story  with  simple 
eloquence.  General  Putnam  now  assumed  command, 
and  all  important  posts  were  manned,  while  we  took 
possession  and  raised  the  flag  of  thirteen  stripes  in 
the  name  of  the  thirteen  United  Provinces. 

Small-pox  still  prevailed  in  sections  of  the  unhappy 
town,  and  orders  were  issued  that  no  officer  or  soldier 
should  enter  without  a  pass.  The  main  body  of  the 
arjny  was  not  to  march  in  for  three  days,  and  meanwhile 
we  held  all  the  points  commanding  town  and  harbor,  and 
saw  the  British  fleet  drop  down  the  bay.  It  was  a  sea 
son  of  joy  and  thankfulness;  we  felt  no  little  self-ap 
proval  since  we,  being  but  raw  troops,  had  driven  his 
Majesty's  veterans  out  of  their  stronghold.  The  relief 
and  exultation  in  camp  was  universal,  and  his  Excel 
lency  issued  orders,  forbidding  the  molestation  of  any 
person  or  property,  since  the  unhappy  inhabitants  of 
Boston  had  suffered  already  but  too  deeply.  • 

As  soon  as  my  military  duties  were  discharged,  I  has 
tened  to  headquarters  to  obtain  a  pass,  having  but  the  one 
thought,  to  see  Joyce  as  soon  as  might  be.  I  had  ob 
tained  leave  to  escort  them  to  Marblehead,  and  hoped 
to  get  them  away  at  once,  fearing  that  Sir  Anthony's 
temper  would  yet  be  the  cause  of  trouble. 

Having  been  to  Cambridge  in  the  afternoon,  I  ap 
proached  by  the  way  of  Charlestown,  walking  past  its 
blackened  ruins  with  a  sad  heart.  The  broken  walls  of 
some  buildings  yet  remained,  and  the  aspect  of  the  place, 
once  so  beautiful,  was  tragic  and  forlorn.  The  intrench- 
ments  upon  Breed's  Hill  were  manned  by  our  troops, 
who  stood  now  by  the  graves  of  so  many  of  their  own 
heroic  brethren,  sacrificed  on  that  memorable  day  in 
June.  In  the  midst  of  our  success,  here  was  a  melan 
choly  reminder  of  the  sacred  blood  that  it  had  cost. 


204  A    YANKEE    VOLUNTEER. 

I  took  an  open  boat  and  crossed  the  river,  landing  at 
the  ferry-way  beside  the  Battery,  and  so  stood  once  more 
in  Boston,  where  I  had  not  been  for  more  than  a  year. 
The  town  was  quiet  enough ;  even  the  idle  loiterers  by 
the  wharves  stood  aside  respectfully  at  the  sight  of  my 
uniform,  and  many  of  the  inhabitants  seemed  eager  to 
greet  me ;  but  I  walked  on  rapidly,  anxious  to  reach  my 
destination.  I  noted  eagerly  the  aspect  of  the  town,  and 
was  astonished  to  see  how  little  damage  the  bombard 
ment  had  inflicted ;  the  condition  of  the  place  was  far 
better  than  I  had  anticipated,  the  houses  presenting  a 
fair  appearance  outwardly,  though  some  were  sadly  used 
within,  having  been  quarters  for  the  common  soldiers. 
Some  old  houses  were  pulled  down  for  fuel,  and  I  saw  that 
the  Old  North  Meeting-house  had  been  utterly  destroyed 
for  the  same  purpose ;  doubtless  the  royalists  had  de 
lighted  in  so  doing,  since  from  this  church  had  shone 
the  beacon  that  announced  the  move  on  Lexington. 
Every  precaution  had  been  taken  to  fortify  the  town,  and 
to  my  poor  judgment  it  seemed  well  nigh  impregnable. 
All  these  things  caught  my  eye  in  passing,  but  I  paused 
not  to  investigate  and  pushed  forward  eagerly,  reaching 
my  destination,  as  it  happened,  in  the  nick  of  time. 
The  house  that  the  Talbots  occupied  stood  back  on 
Marlborough  Street,  and  the  door  opening  on  the  street 
was  on  a  level  with  the  ground  ;  the  windows  of  the  liv 
ing-rooms  below  stairs  also  stood  within  reach  of  the 
passers-by.  It  was  a  low  two-story  house  of  brick,  and 
in  the  arch  over  the  entrance,  also  of  brick  and  slightly 
concave,  the  king's  arms  were  set  in  open  defiance  of 
the  Whig  sentiment  now  predominant  in  the  town,  since 
the  Tories  had  fled  with  the  Ministerial  army.  I  had 
heard  an  uproar  before  I  turned  the  corner  of  the  street, 
and  quickened  my  steps  in  time  to  see  a  party  of  rascals, 


S/A'  ANTHONY  AT  BAY.  2O$ 

town  vagabonds,  collected  at  the  door  of  the  Talbot 
house  ;  one  fellow,  having  mounted  on  the  shoulders  of 
a  comrade,  was  striving  to  detach  the  royal  arms  from 
their  resting-place.  The  remainder  of  the  party  cheered 
him,  and  cast  reproaches  of  no  delicate  nature  at  the 
inmates  of  the  dwelling.  Seeing  that  they  were  con 
centrating  their  attention  upon  an  open  window  on  the 
lower  floor,  I  divined  the  cause  of  the  disturbance  and 
hurried  forward,  none  too  soon.  At  the  very  moment 
of  my  approach,  Joyce's  dog,  Laddie,  aggravated  by  the 
noise,  leaped  from  the  window  and  attacked  a  vagabond 
who  stood  near  by.  The  fellow,  infuriated  by  the  un 
looked-for  assault,  seized  a  heavy  stick  from  a  compan 
ion,  and  in  an  instant  would  have  crushed  the  animal's 
skull,  but  before  the  blow  could  descend,  I  had  him  by 
the  wrist,  and  seizing  Laddie's  collar  with  the  other 
hand,  pulled  them  apart.  The  dog  recognized  me  at 
once  and  obeyed  my  touch,  while  the  sight  of  my  uni 
form  had  a  magical  effect  upon  the  crowd ;  more  mis 
chievous  than  ill-natured,  the  idlers  stood  aghast  at  the 
sight  of  an  officer  at  so  unexpected  a  moment.  But  my 
appearance  had  not  the  same  effect  upon  Sir  Anthony, 
who  sat  in  a  chair  by  the  window,  too  lame  to  rise  but 
able  to  fling  his  defiance  in  the  teeth  of  his  enemies. 

"  Come  on,  ye  ruffians  ! "  he  shouted,  his  face  its 
usual  purple,  and  his  white  wig  awry,  "  an  attack  upon 
a  helpless  old  man  and  a  lot  of  defenceless  women  is 
worthy  of  your  beggarly  army  —  and  there,  I  see,  is  a 
leader  for  you,  wearing  the  devil's  uniform,  or  that  of 
the  rebel  congress,  which  is  one  and  the  same.  Don't 
stop  at  his  Majesty's  arms  —  burn,  slay,  rob  —  that  is  your 
mission,  and  worthy  of  you." 

Stones  and  sticks  began  to  fly  at  this  invitation,  and 
I  greatly  feared  that  I  could  not  stop  the  outbreak ;  here 


206  A    YANKEE    VOLUNTEER. 

was  an  element  made  worse  by  war,  and  ready  to 
espouse  whichever  side  was  victorious  for  the  sake  of 
spoiling  the  defeated.  Seeing  the  humor  of  the  crowd, 
I  threw  myself  before  the  window,  and  still  holding  the 
infuriated  dog,  addressed  them  in  sharp,  cool  tones  of 
authority. 

"  Disperse  to  your  homes,"  I  said  sternly  ;  "  any  dis 
orderly  conduct  will  be  punished.  All  mutinous  and 
disobedient  men  will  receive  the  lash  or  the  stocks.  His 
Excellency,  the  commander- in-chief,  is  determined  to 
maintain  the  utmost  discipline,  and  he  will  do  it,  if  he 
has  to  hang  every  rascal  that  violates  his  instructions,  or 
have  him  whipped  at  the  cart's  tail." 

They  shrank  at  my  threats,  the  more  timid  losing 
heart,  and  as  the  king's  arms  had  already  been  thrown 
down  and  trampled,  their  main  object  was  accom 
plished  ;  yet  they  wavered  between  fear  of  offending 
the  new  powers  and  a  desire  to  return  Sir  Anthony's 
insults. 

"  You  have  no  cause  to  defend  that  old  Tory  yonder, 
sir,"  cried  out  one  of  the  most  reluctant ;  "  it  is  he  who 
deserves  the  lash,  and  right  cheerfully  would  we  admin 
ister  it." 

"  Let  me  but  have  the  chance  and  I  would  lay  it  on 
your  backs  fast  enough,"  returned  Sir  Anthony's  voice 
from  behind  me  ;  "  ay,  I  would  give  you —  "  But  here 
the  window  shut  sharply,  cutting  short  his  harangue. 

I  gave  one  quick  glance  backward,  and  saw  Joyce 
standing  over  him,  and  knew  that  I  had  an  ally  within. 
I  turned  with  fresh  courage  to  the  rabble. 

"  For  shame  !  "  I  said  briefly ;  "  why  stand  here  to  in 
sult  a  helpless,  childish  old  man  who  is  in  charge  of  the 
officers  of  the  Continental  army?  It  is  for  us  to  decide 
his  fate.  Disperse  to  your  homes,  or  you  will  presently 


S/X  ANTHONY  AT  BAY,  2O/ 

suffer  for  this.  General  Washington  has  no  mercy  for 
disobedience." 

"  Give  us  the  dog  to  hang  and  we  will  go,"  called 
out  the  rogue  whom  Laddie  had  attacked. 

"  I  will  hang  you  first,"  I  replied  sharply ;  "  disperse 
—  I  give  you  five  minutes;  delay  an  instant  at  your 
cost ;  "  and  I  drew  my  pistol  from  my  belt. 

Contrary  to  my  expectations,  they  obeyed,  sullenly 
and  slowly,  it  is  true,  but  far  more  easily  than  I  had 
dared  to  hope.  I  stood  there  with  my  hand  upon  my 
weapon,  and  watched  them,  Laddie  growling  fiercely  at 
my  side.  When  the  last  rogue  had  turned  the  corner,  I 
struck  the  knocker  gently  on  the  door  and  waited  for 
admittance.  The  rebel  soldier  whom  Sir  Anthony  had 
forbidden  his  house,  had  come  now  to  protect  a  van 
quished  foe.  My  heart  beat  high  with  expectation  as  I 
watched  the  door.  How  could  I  know  whose  hand 
would  open  it? 


CHAPTER   XXVII. 

THE   WHITE    COCKADE. 

THOSE  few  moments  of  joyful  suspense  seemed  half 
an  hour,  and  then  the  door  opened,  but  it  was  a  timid 
and  a  lingering  hand  that  undid  the  bolt  and  chain,  and 
not  Joyce  but  Lady  Talbot  stood  upon  the  threshold. 
So  disappointed  was  I  at  the  exchange  that  for  the 
moment  I  stood  staring,  while  Laddie  pushed  past  her 
into  the  house.  Then  I  recovered  myself  and  saluted 
her  gravely,  scarcely  knowing  how  she  would  welcome 
me,  although  she  had  been  ever  my  ally. 

"  I  am  the  bearer  of  your  passports,  madam,"  I  said 
with  ceremonious  courtesy,  "  and  it  may  be  that  I  can 
serve  you  further  in  your  arrangements,  especially  before 
our  troops  occupy  the  town." 

"  I  am  thankful  indeed  to  see  you,"  she  replied  with 
a  faltering  voice ;  "  we  had  been  through  so  much, 
suffered  so  much,  during  these  awful  weeks  that  I 
cannot  leave  the  town  too  soon.  I  would  go  this  hour 
if  I  might !  " 

She  was  a  timid  woman,  with  a  pale  but  handsome 
face ;  from  her  the  son  and  daughter  had  inherited 
their  beauty,  but  their  temperaments  were  from  the 
father's  side.  She  showed  now,  plainly,  her  anxiety  and 
distress,  and  I  saw  that  her  hands  were  quivering  with 
nervousness  from  the  ordeal  but  just  ended. 

"  I  am  sorry  that  you  cannot  leave  at  once,"  I 
answered  kindly ;  "  but  no  one  can  pass  out  or  come  in 


THE    WHITE   COCKADE.  2CX) 

as  yet,  until  his  Excellency  is  satisfied  that  the  town  is 
purified  from  small-pox.  But  I  trust  that  it  will  be  so 
in  a  few  days,  and  you  can  go  down  to  the  sea." 

All  this  while  I  stood  in  the  street,  making  no 
attempt  to  enter  the  house,  and  her  lack  of  hospitality 
suddenly  occurred  to  her.  She  was  in  a  difficult  posi 
tion,  as  I  knew ;  within,  Sir  Anthony  was  yet  storming 
against  the  rebels,  and  I  was  a  rebel  officer,  yet  I  was 
also,  in  a  manner,  her  benefactor.  I  could  see  the  con 
flict  of  natural  impulse  and  timidity,  and  then  the  former 
won  the  battle,  and  she  threw  open  the  door. 

"  Come  in,  Mr.  Allen,"  she  said  timidly ;  "  you  must 
be  tired  and  —  and  we  have  need  to  talk  the  matter 
over." 

"  Nay,  Lady  Talbot,"  I  replied  gravely,  "  I  would  not 
force  myself  upon  your  hospitality.  I  fear  I  am  no 
welcome  guest.  I  am  a  soldier  of  the  United  Provinces, 
and  scarcely  wanted  in  a  Tory's  house." 

"  Let  us  not  speak  of  these  unhappy  things,"  she 
rejoined  plaintively.  "We  are  old  friends,  Mr.  Allen, 
and  you  come  to  aid  us ;  do  not  fret  me  by  standing  like 
a  stranger,  in  the  street." 

"  I  would  not  displease  you  for  the  world,  dear  Lady 
Talbot,"  I  said,  entering  as  I  spoke ;  "  you  were  ever 
my  friend,  and  I  like  not  my  new  name.  ...  I  used  to 
be  '  John  '  to  you." 

She  colored  a  little,  embarrassed  as  any  maiden,  but 
her  glance  was  full  of  kindness. 

"  I  feared  you  would  not  like  the  old  familiar  term 
from  me,"  she  said  sadly.  "  I  know  that  we  have  used 
you  very  ill." 

"  And  you  thought  me  so  mean  as  to  bear  malice  for 
a  difference  of  opinion?"  I  exclaimed.  "I  believed 
that  you  knew  me  better." 

M 


210  A    YANKEE    VOLUNTEER. 

"  I  thought  no  ill  of  you,"  she  replied  frankly,  "  but  the 
times  are  changed  enough,  and  many  ties  are  broken." 

"That  may  be,"  I  answered  firmly,  "  but  my  affection 
for  you  and  yours  is  strong  enough  to  endure  the  vicissi 
tudes  of  fortune." 

As  we  talked  together,  she  had  led  me  back  to  a 
room  in  the  rear  to  escape,  as  I  divined,  Sir  Anthony's 
tirade,  which  was  audible  behind  the  closed  door  of  his 
room.  As  we  emerged  from  the  dark  passage  into  an 
apartment  lighted  by  two  large  windows,  I  stopped 
short  with  an  exclamation  of  surprise.  Great  confusion 
prevailed,  much  of  the  window-glass  was  shattered,  and 
nothing  but  two  broken  chairs  remained  by  the  center- 
table,  while  the  pictures  on  the  walls  were  cut  and 
thrust  straight  through  the  canvas.  The  room  had  the 
appearance  of  a  wreck.  Seeing  my  amazement,  Lady 
Talbot  looked  about  her  with  a  smile  of  bitter  resigna 
tion.  I  felt  the  blood  burn  in  my  face. 

"  Surely,"  I  exclaimed,  "  this  is  not  the  work  of  the 
rascals  that  I  caught  before  the  house  ?  " 

She  shook  her  head.  "  The  day  that  our  army  em 
barked  there  was  some  disorder,"  she  said  calmly, 
"  although  Mr.  Howe  strove  to  avert  it ;  but  you  cannot 
control  the  rabble.  A  party  of  drunken  soldiers  broke 
in  here,  and  Sir  Anthony  provoked  them.  This  is  the 
result." 

"  It  is  too  much,"  I  replied  warmly ;  "  this  from  your 
friends  !  Truly,  I  would  not  value  such  discipline." 

"And  what  was  it  you  found  before  the  door?"  she 
asked  with  a  little  smile. 

I  bit  my  lip.  "  Rabble,  madam,"  I  retorted  briefly  ; 
"our  troops  are  not  yet  in  the  town." 

"And  ours  were  leaving  it,"  she  said  with  stubborn 
loyalty ;  "  it  is  a  like  case." 


THE    WHITE   COCKADE.  211 

1  saw  that  these  people  would  bear  much  before  they 
reviled  the  hand  that  wounded  them,  so  determined  was 
their  devotion  to  their  king.  Therefore  I  spoke  briefly 
of  my  errand,  and  frankly  offered  to  escort  them  to 
Marblehead,  since  the  temper  of  the  people  was  aroused 
and  they  might  be  unfriendly  to  a  family  of  Tories.  She 
heard  me  with  patience,  and  was  ready  with  her  thanks, 
but  I  saw  that  she  hesitated  to  accept  my  offer ;  and  the 
cause  was  not  far  to  seek.  I  knew  well  that  she  feared 
Sir  Anthony's  violence,  and  was  not  a  little  amused, 
since  I  had  foreseen  this  difficulty  and  scorned  it. 
What  was  it,  after  all,  but  the  petulance  of  an  evil-tem 
pered  man,  aggravated  by  suffering  and  helplessness? 
Surely,  his  vindictive  tongue  was  beneath  a  brave  man's 
notice.  But  I  let  her  hesitate  and  stammer,  because 
all  the  while  I  was  plotting  to  see  Joyce,  and  as  yet 
found  no  way  to  compass  my  design.  I  had  seen  her 
at  the  window  and  I  knew  that  she  was  in  the  house,  but 
how  to  ask  for  her?  My  pride  was  stubborn,  and  I  felt 
that  my  wayward  sweetheart  owed  me  thanks,  since  I 
had  responded  to  her  request.  Scheming  for  delay,  I 
threw  my  hat  upon  the  table,  and  leaning  back  against 
this  solid  piece  of  mahogany,  folded  my  arms  and  talked 
and  listened  to  Lady  Talbot.  As  we  stood,  my  back 
was  to  the  door,  while  she  was  facing  it.  The  chairs 
were  too  disabled  for  use,  so  that  we  were  forced  to  re 
main  upon  our  feet,  and  I  think  she  feared  to  invite  me 
into  a  more  comfortably  furnished  room  lest  I  should 
prolong  my  stay,  and  bring  down  the  fury  of  Sir  Anthony 
on  her  devoted  head.  So  closely  did  I  press  my  cause, 
supporting  my  argument  with  many  substantial  reasons, 
that  finally  she  yielded  a  reluctant  consent,  permitting 
me  to  be  their  escort.  She  had  tried  to  avoid  it,  by 
suggesting  the  possible  offence  to  my  commander;  but 


212  A    YANKEE    VOLUNTEER. 

I  swept  aside  this  objection  with  the  declaration  that  I 
had  obtained  leave  already  to  go  home  to  Salem  for  a 
brief  season  to  adjust  my  personal  affairs.  My  father 
being  almost  constantly  absent  on  public  business,  our 
own  matters  were  fast  becoming  much  involved.  In  the 
midst  of  this  argument  I  heard  a  slight  sound  behind 
me,  and  turning  quickly,  saw  Joyce  standing  demurely 
by  the  table.  So  pretty  was  the  picture  that  she  made 
that  I  regarded  her  in  silence.  Her  gown  of  some  dark 
red  woollen,  with  a  snow-white  kerchief  folded  about 
her  throat  and  crossed  upon  her  bosom,  became  her 
well,  and  there  was  a  soft  color  in  her  cheeks,  while 
her  brown  hair  had  escaped  its  bonds  a  little  and  rippled 
about  her  brow  and  neck. .  She  stood  there,  with  her 
hands  clasped  before  her,  and  regarded  me  from  under 
her  dark  lashes  with  a  roguish  gleam  in  her  blue  eyes. 
At  this  moment  we  heard  Sir  Anthony's  voice  calling 
sharply  for  his  wife,  and  she  hurried  from  the  room,  but 
too  eager  to  escape  from  my  persistent  argument.  She 
was  conscious,  too,  that  matters  were  strained  to  a  sharp 
point  between  Joyce  and  me,  and  willing  to  let  me 
settle  my  own  quarrel ;  in  her  heart  she  had  ever  been 
my  friend.  Left  alone  with  my  wayward  love,  I  ad 
vanced  with  eagerness,  holding  out  both  hands,  en 
couraged  with  the  thought  that  she  had  acknowledged 
that  she  loved  me  still.  But  I  was  destined  to  disap 
pointment  ;  she  had  no  thought  to  greet  me  with  any 
show  of  tenderness.  At  my  approach  she  moved  away 
to  the  farther  side  of  the  table  and  stood  regarding  me 
in  silence.  Annoyed  by  her  perversity,  my  hopes  of  a 
warmer  welcome  dashed  at  once,  I  paused  also,  with 
the  table  between  us,  and  returned  her  glance  with  one 
of  open  discontent. 

"So,"  I  said  softly,  "you  did  but  fool  me,  Joyce ; 


THE    WHITE   COCKADE.  213 

you  did  not  mean  the  kind  words  that  you  spoke  at 
parting.  I  think  that  I  deserve  some  thanks,  too, 
since  I  brought  your  passports  and  saved  the  life  of 
laddie." 

"Nay,"  she  replied  with  provoking  levity,  "if  you 
claim  a  reward  for  every  act  of  kindness,  then  is  it  all 
prompted  by  self-interest,  and  loses  half  its  merit.  True 
service  looks  for  neither  praise  nor  thanks." 

I  bit  my  lip  to  keep  back  a  hasty  retort.  I  knew 
myself  no  match  for  her,  and  she  was  ever  a  tantalizing 
witch. 

"  You  teach  me  a  lesson,  Miss  Talbot,"  I  said,  as 
suming  her  manner ;  "  it  may  be  I  deserve  no  thanks  at 
your  hands." 

At  this  she  relented,  as  I  had  anticipated,  and  looked 
down  confused. 

"  You  deserve  our  gratitude,"  she  said  softly,  "  and 
you  have  it.  I  have  already  thanked  you  for  Dick's 
escape  —  " 

I  cut  her  short ;  my  conscience  would  not  permit  her 
to  believe  me  more  deserving  than  I  was.  It  hurt  me 
to  tell  her  the  simple  truth,  but  I  told  it,  and  she 
listened  to  the  end.  Her  face  paled  and  flushed  while 
I  related  the  whole  incident,  concealing  nothing,  though 
I  feared  that  I  grieved  her  deeply  and  it  stung  my 
heart  to  do  it. 

"The  struggle  between  my  duty  and  my  love  for 
Dick  was  bitter,  with  the  bitterness  of  death,"  I  con 
cluded  sadly,  scarcely  daring  to  watch  her  face  now, 
"  but  I  should  have  been  forced  to  follow  the  dictates  of 
my  conscience.  I  do  not  deserve  your  thanks." 

For  a  moment  there  was  silence,  and  I  stood  before 
her  like  a  convicted  prisoner.  Yet  could  I  do  no  less 
than  tell  her  the  whole  truth,  since  a  falsely  interpreted 


214  A    YANKEE    VOLUNTEER. 

action  concerned  my  honor.  But  the  truth  was  bitter, 
and  I  felt  it  so.  Still  she  spoke  not.  Doubtless  she 
would  interpret  my  action  in  its  blackest  light.  I 
almost  started  when,  at  last,  she  broke  the  pause. 

"  Oh,  thou  Puritan !  "  she  said,  "  thou  son  of  a 
Puritan  —  thou  art  worthy  of  thy  blood!" 

I  felt  that  she  mocked  me,  and  raised  my  head 
proudly. 

"Is  it  only  a  Puritan  who  strives  to  do  his  duty?" 
I  asked  bitterly. 

"  But  you  left  the  tent,  John  ! "  she  said  roguishly, 
shaking  her  ringer  at  me ;  and  she  laughed  her  sweet 
laugh,  gay  and  light-hearted  as  a  child.  "  Oh,  John  !  " 

Then  I  knew  that  she  did  not  choose  to  believe  me, 
and  I  was  of  two  minds  about  it,  half  angry  at  her  mock 
ery,  half  happy  that  I  could  escape  so  lightly ;  yet  felt 
myself  a  fool  for  my  pains. 

"  I  am  thankful  that  I  left  it,"  I  said  honestly,  "  but 
it  was  with  no  thought  that  I  should  be  so  easily  de 
livered  from  my  troubles." 

At  this  she  laughed  again,  and  then  grew  grave  and 
addressed  me  with  much  dignity. 

"  It  is  a  pity,"  she  said  gravely,  "  that  you  who  have 
so  tender  a  conscience  should  forget  so  soon  your  duty 
to  the  king.  In  this  alone  you  seem  a  stubborn  wrong 
doer,  and  have  no  perception  of  the  enormity  of  your 
error." 

"  Because  I  see  a  higher  duty  than  that  which  I  owe 
his  Majesty,"  I  replied  at  once. 

"  You  acknowledge  the  debt,  though,"  she  said  quickly ; 
"  you  are  the  king's  subject  yet." 

"  While  he  is  still  king  in  these  Provinces,  yes,"  I 
rejoined  quietly,  "  but  it  may  be  that  the  blow  has  al 
ready  been  struck  that  severs  that  tie." 


THE    WHITE   COCKADE,  21$ 

• 

"  Alas  !  "  she  exclaimed  with  heat,  "  you  are  a  greater 
rebel  than  you  were." 

"  A  rebel  who  still  loves  you,  Joyce,  with  a  faithful 
heart,"  I  said,  ignoring  her  rising  anger,  "  and  you  have 
admitted  that  you  have  not  quite  forgotten  even  the 
rebel." 

"  I  was  wrong  to  say  it,"  she  retorted  with  spirit ; 
"  you  wear  a  uniform  that  should  proclaim  you  an  en 
emy  of  mine." 

"  Nay,"  I  said  softly,  smiling  as  I  made  a  move  to 
reach  her  side  of  the  table,  "  look  not  at  the  uniform  ; 
what  is  the  color  of  a  man's  coat  compared  with  the 
truth  of  his  heart?" 

"  I  love  not  the  color  of  yours,"  she  said  perversely, 
moving  farther  around  the  table  to  keep  me  at  my  dis 
tance  ;  "  it  should  be  red  as  the  blood  of  a  faithful 
heart." 

"  Aye,  madam,  I  have  heard  you  loved  the  redcoat," 
I  retorted  with  more  feeling  than  wisdom. 

She  bit  her  lip  and  averted  her  eyes. 

"  It  is  true  that  I  Iqve  his  Majesty's  uniform,"  she 
said  bluntly. 

"I  am  content  if  it  is  but  the  uniform,"  I  answered 
meaningly.  "  I  should  be  happy  to  wear  Joseph's  coat 
of  many  colors  to  win  you  back,  my  love,  but  I  must 
obey  my  conscience." 

"  Your  conscience  !  "  she  cried  suddenly,  stamping 
her  foot  upon  the  floor ;  "  I  wish  you  had  no  conscience  !  " 

I  stood  silent,  for  the  moment  astonished  at  this 
amazing  statement.  Her  cheeks  were  flushed  and  her 
eyes  sparkled ;  she  looked  the  picture  of  a  little  terma 
gant,  and  yet  withal  as  lovely  as  she  was  angry. 

"  I  am  weary  of  your  conscience,"  she  continued 
with  a  quiver  in  her  voice.  "  I  wish  I  could  find  a  man 


2l6  A    YANKEE    VOLUNTEER. 

who  had  none,  or  could  sacrifice  a  little  of  it  for  the 
woman  he  loved  ! " 

"  You  think  me  a  canting  hypocrite,"  I  said  with 
feeling,  "  but  you  do  not  know  how  I  love  you." 

She  turned  and  looked  at  me  a  moment,  and  then 
pointed  to  my  hat  which  lay  between  us  on  the  table. 

"  In  the  old  days  of  chivalry,"  she  said  quietly,  her 
manner  changed  once  more,  "  a  man  would  dare  any 
danger  to  serve  the  woman  he  loved.  I  have  chosen 
to  test  you  yet  once  more.  If  you  love  me,  wear  that 
as  it  is." 

Now,  being  dull  and  slow  in  thought,  I  gazed  at  her 
in  some  bewilderment.  Then  I  took  up  my  hat,  and 
in  a  moment  saw  what  she  had  done  at  her  first  en 
trance,  while  my  back  was  turned.  She  had  thrown 
the  black  cockade  upon  the  table,  and  in  the  place  had 
fixed  a  white  one.  This,  or  a  white  scarf  upon  the 
arm  was  the  emblem  worn  by  Tories  volunteering 
into  his  Majesty's  service.  I  looked  up  in  quick  re 
proach,  but  could  not  read  her  face.  I  was  angry,  too, 
but  forbore  to  show  it,  and  stood  looking  at  the  white 
cockade  in  silence,  which  she  was  not  slow  to  interpret 
to  her  own  liking.  She  leaned  a  little  forward,  resting 
her  hands  upon  the  table,  and  looked  up  into  my  face. 

"Will  you  wear  it,"  she  said  softly,  "for  my  sake?" 

Never  did  any  witch  look  more  entreatingly  upon 
her  victim,  but  I  hardened  my  heart  against  her  tender 
persuasion. 

"  Never,"  I  replied  firmly,  and  threw  the  white  cock 
ade  upon  the  table,  replacing  the  black ;  "  I  am  a  soldier 
of  the  United  Provinces." 

She  walked  straight  to  the  door,  and  stood  there  look 
ing  at  me,  her  figure  the  incarnation  of  proud  defiance. 

"  Farewell,  Sir  Rebel,"  she  said,  a  red  spot  burning 


THE    WHITE  COCK  A  DR.  2\f 

in  either  cheek  and  her  blue  eyes  on  fire ;  "  God  save 
the  king !  " 

And  with  that  she  left  me,  and  I  heard  her  quick 
step  lightly  ascend  the  stairs.  I  stood  there  at  a  loss, 
feeling  myself  routed  at  every  turn  and  half  angry  at 
her  for  her  wayward  treatment  of  me.  But  there  was 
nothing  more  to  do.  Happily  1  found  Lady  Talbot  in 
the  hall,  when  I  went  out,  and  with  her  completed  my 
arrangements  to  see  them  safe  from  Boston.  Divining, 
no  doubt,  that  Joyce  had  quarrelled  with  me  again,  she 
faltered  her  own  thanks  for  my  kindness,  but  even  she 
was  eager  to  get  me  from  the  house.  I  did  not  blame 
her,  for  I  heard  the  distant  rumble  of  Sir  Anthony's 
wrath,  that  would  not  be  appeased  while  an  officer  of 
the  Continental  army  yet  darkened  his  doors.  So  it 
was  that  I  left  the  house  at  sword's  points  with  two  of 
its  inmates  and  but  half  tolerated  by  the  third.  Surely, 
the  course  of  my  love  ran  not  smooth. 


CHAPTER    XXVIII. 

ROYALIST   AND    REBEL. 

WITH  drums  beating  and  colors  flying,  our  main  army 
entered  Boston  on  the  twentieth  of  March,  and  we  were 
hailed  with  joy  by  the  inhabitants.  They  appeared  at 
the  windows  and  the  doors  of  the  houses,  greeting  us  as 
deliverers,  since  they  had  suffered  all  the  hardships  of  a 
ten  months'  weary  siege,  and  endured  the  suspicions 
and  insults  of  the  enemy.  Following  our  entrance,  too, 
came  a  concourse  of  people,  relatives  and  friends  of  the 
besieged,  and  their  reunion  was  one  of  much  tenderness 
and  feeling,  and  many  touching  scenes  were  witnessed. 
Families  had  been  separated,  lovers  divided,  and  all  had 
been  tortured  by  doubt  and  anxiety.  Many  met  in  the 
streets  and  embraced  weeping ;  the  reserve  even  of  New 
England  natures  melted  at  such  a  time  as  this,  and  there 
were  both  smiles  and  tears.  It  was  sunshine  breaking 
through  the  storm  cloud,  more  radiant  because  of  its 
long  obscurity,  as  a  golden  ray  slants  with  dazzling 
brightness  across  the  blackness  of  the  tempest. 

We  found,  on  examination  of  the  town,  a  large  quan 
tity  of  military  stores  and  even  some  provisions  left  in 
the  hasty  evacuation.  We  observed  all  the  enemy's  works 
with  interest,  and  were  much  astonished  at  the  indifferent 
construction  of  some  entirely  unlike  the  fortifications 
upon  the  Neck.  There  were  two  or  three  half  moons 
at  Beacon  Hill  and  upon  the  Common,  for  small  arms, 
and  on  the  shore,  opposite  Lechmere's  Point,  was  a 
bomb  battery ;  near  this  lay  a  mortar,  and  above,  on  the 


ROYALIST  AND  REBEL.  21$ 

hill,  a  battery,  the  cannon  being  all  spiked.  Fort  Hill 
was  but  a  line  of  barrels  filled  with  earth,  and  at  Hatch's 
Wharf  was  also  a  battery  with  spiked  guns ;  but  we  were 
able  to  save  some  of  these  cannon  and  a  large  number 
of  those  left  at  the  other  batteries.  The  work  of  de 
struction  had  been  too  hasty  to  be  thorough,  and  much 
was  recovered.  Their  main  works  were  thought  well 
nigh  impregnable,  but  the  intrenchments  in  the  town 
were  but  to  fool  us  with  an  appearance  of  strength. 

Faneuil  Hall  we  found  dressed  up  for  mummers,  a  fit 
work  for  the  Philistines,  and  the  Old  South  Meeting 
was  a  shameful  spectacle.  Pulpit  and  pews  were  gone, 
the  floor  was  thickly  strewn  with  dirt,  a  bar  being  fixed 
for  the  cavalry  to  leap  their  horses,  and  a  gallery  fitted 
up  for  a  refreshment  room.  Two  other  churches,  one 
on  Brattle  street,  the  other  upon  Hollis,  had  been  occu 
pied  as  barracks.  Trees  were  cut  down  upon  the  Com 
mon,  and  it  was  otherwise  much  disfigured  and  its 
beauty  gone.  We  mourned,  too,  for  the  loss  of  the 
Liberty  Tree.  There  was  much  to  depress  our  spirits  in 
this  sad  aspect  of  the  familiar  spots,  and  our  own  people 
had  suffered  many  losses,  too,  in  money  and  in  property, 
and  there  was  great  distress  amongst  the  poor.  The 
Ministerial  fleet  lay  at  Nantasket  Roads,  to  the  annoy 
ance  and  alarm  of  the  country  folks,  and  it  was  ten  days 
or  more  before  the  larger  portion  of  it  sailed  for  Halifax. 

I  did  not  linger  long  amid  these  scenes.  I  had 
obtained  a  leave  of  absence,  and  was  permitted  to  escort 
the  Talbots  to  Marblehead.  Determined  that  Joyce 
should  learn  the  value  of  my  services  and  respect  my 
forbearance,  I  made  all  the  arrangements  that  were  re 
quired  to  conduct  them  safely  upon  the  road,  and  this, 
too,  without  seeing  or  speaking  with  her.  I  had  found 
Basset  and  made  him  a  go-between,  and  thus  one  cold 


220  A    YANKEE    VOLUNTEER. 

morning,  a  few  days  after  our  army  occupied  the  town, 
the  party  set  out  in  two  coaches,  carrying  also  some  per 
sonal  effects,  and  travelling  rapidly  across  the  town,  went 
by  ferry  to  Winniset,  whence  we  could  journey  with 
more  leisure,  since  here  there  was  less  chance  of  a  col 
lision  between  Sir  Anthony  and  any  of  our  army.  He 
travelled  with  the  curtains  of  his  coach  drawn  close, 
being  too  ill  with  gout  and  rage  to  sit  upright,  and  hav 
ing  with  him  a  fair  number  of  bottles  of  usquebaugh, 
black  cherry  brandy,  and  sack,  although  charged  by  the 
physician  in  Boston  to  drink  only  water.  But  Sir 
Anthony  declared  this  to  be  the  advice  of  "  a  dried  up 
Whig,"  and  proceeded  to  follow  his  own  inclinations. 
Poor  Lady  Talbot  was,  as  usual,  his  attendant,  while 
Joyce  and  her  woman  occupied  the  last  coach  with  two 
of  the  servants.  Basset  sat  with  the  coachman  on  the 
top  of  Sir  Anthony's  carriage,  and  I  was  on  horse 
back,  leading  the  procession.  I  forbore  to  ride  beside 
the  carriages,  being  minded  to  let  my  sweetheart  see 
that  I  could  forego  the  sight  of  her  averted  face.  A 
strange  caravan  it  was,  and  attracted  much  curiosity 
from  the  rustics,  who  cheered  heartily  at  the  sight  of  a 
Provincial  officer,  not  knowing  that  here  were  two  coach 
loads  of  Tories,  and  that  I  was  their  voluntary  protector. 
Love  leads  us  in  strange  places,  truly,  and  I  was  more 
than  half  amused  at  the  gaping  reverence  of  roadside 
loiterers,  thinking  all  the  while  of  Sir  Anthony  behind 
the  curtains,  breathing  fire  and  destruction  to  their 
cause  but  yet  impotent  as  any  child,  in  his  fury. 

The  promise  of  the  spring  was  with  us,  and  the  buds 
were  swelling  on  the  trees.  As  I  rode  along,  I  saw  upon 
a  sunny  slope  on  the  edge  of  the  woodland  a  nodding 
group  of  blue  squirrel-cups  showing  above  the  dead 
leaves  of  the  autumn,  and  lo,  beside  me  the  soft  note  of 


ROYALIST  AND  REBEL.  221 

a  bluebird  !  Still  in  the  hollows  lay  the  white  drifts,  the 
fragments  of  the  tattered  robe  of  winter,  not  yet 
destroyed  by  the  warmer  shafts  of  sunlight.  All  my 
hopes  and  fancies  kindled  as  I  rode ;  it  seemed  scarcely 
a  day  for  lovers  to  find  a  cause  for  difference.  The 
next  pale  flower  that  I  discovered  made  me  dismount  to 
pluck  it ;  then,  springing  in  the  saddle,  I  went  back  to 
the  window  of  that  last  coach  and  presented  it  with  a 
grave  salute.  Joyce  took  it  from  me  with  the  manner  of 
a  queen,  gravely  courteous  as  I  had  been,  but  I  saw  a 
telltale  blush  creep  up  to  her  hair.  For  a  while,  after 
this,  I  rode  beside  the  carriage,  though  I  never  turned 
my  head  toward  it,  but  looked  between  my  horse's  ears, 
conscious,  all  the  time,  that  a  pair  of  blue  eyes  watched 
me  furtively  within  the  shadow  of  the  coach.  Thus 
we  played  at  being  enemies.  Meanwhile  Sir  Anthony 
was  unusually  quiet,  and  we  travelled  on  without  mis 
hap,  stopping  at  noon  to  bait  our  horses. 

As  the  day  progressed  and  we  approached  Lynn,  I 
grew  more  and  more  perplexed.  I  greatly  desired  to 
offer  them  the  hospitality  of  my  father's  house,  and  knew 
that  it  would  be  his  wish,  for  we  had  never  acknowledged 
any  grievance  against  them.  Yet  I  scarcely  felt  at 
liberty  to  propose  it,  although  it  seemed  but  poor 
kindness  to  let  them  push  on  to  Marblehead.  A  long 
and  weary  journey  for  a  sick  man,  and  tiresome  for  all. 
But  I  knew  not  how  to  broach  the  subject ;  to  Joyce  I 
could  speak,  but  I  had  not  forgiven  yet  her  defiance, 
and  was  willing  to  assume  an  indifference  that  I  did  not 
feel.  To  approach  Sir  Anthony  would  be  to  rouse  the 
tempest,  yet  his  consent  was  essential  to  the  scheme. 
I  determined  to  brave  the  lion  in  his  den,  and  after  the 
noon  rest  was  over  rode  up  to  the  carriage  and  ad 
dressed  Lady  Talbot,  who  was  looking  through  a  narrow 


222  A    YANKEE    VOLUNTEER. 

opening  in  her  curtained  window.  I  told  her  briefly 
that  the  continuous  journey  to  Marblehead  seemed  to 
me  too  tedious  for  them,  and  I  prayed  her  to  accept 
the  hospitality  of  my  father's  house,  where  she  would 
find  only  my  Aunt  Dorcas.  She  glanced  at  me  as  if 
affrighted  at  my  boldness,  and  murmured  a  faint-hearted 
refusal,  but  Sir  Anthony's  deep  voice  cut  her  short.  I 
could  not  see  his  face,  but  I  could  fancy  its  expression 
from  the  suppressed  ire  of  his  tones. 

"  Tell  the  young  gentleman  that  we  thank  him, 
madam,"  he  said  harshly,  "but  the  king's  loyal  sub 
jects  cannot  eat  a  rebel's  bread." 

"  For  shame,  Sir  Anthony,"  his  wife  cried  with 
unusual  spirit,  "  we  owe  much  to  Mr.  Allen ;  it  is  un 
grateful  and  indecent  to  heap  such  reproaches  upon 
him." 

"  Be  not  fretted,  dear  Lady  Talbot,"  I  replied  with 
dignity;  "  I  can  endure  much  from  Sir  Anthony,  for  old 
friendship's  sake,  and  yet  forbear." 

"  Ay  !  "  retorted  his  voice,  sharply,  "  an  old  dog's 
bark  is  more  troublesome  than  his  bite,  and  you  can 
afford  to  scorn  it." 

"  I  can  afford  not  to  listen  to  it,"  I  replied  gravely, 
and  rode  on  in  front ;  having  discharged  my  conscience 
of  its  uneasiness,  I  could  put  the  matter  from  my  mind 
without  regret. 

Sir  Anthony's  violence  no  longer  stirred  my  blood 
with  anger  as  at  first ;  I  had  faced  the  realities  of  war, 
and  the  idle  bluster  of  his  evil  temper  disturbed  me  not 
at  all.  It  is  true  that  I  had  nursed  a  faint  hope  of  see 
ing  Joyce  once  more  beneath  my  own  roof,  but  now  I 
recognized  the  folly  of  such  a  dream,  and  set  my  face 
steadily  toward  my  duty.  Thus  we  continued  in  solemn 
procession  until  we  entered  Lynn,  where  we  halted  at 


ROYALIST  AND  REBEL.  22$ 

the  public  house  for  some  refreshment.  Sir  Anthony 
and  his  party  remained  in  the  carriages ;  they  had  no 
inclination  to  enter  the  inn,  and  I  had  no  desire  that 
they  should,  knowing  the  inevitable  result.  Indeed,  I 
endeavored  to  conceal  the  fact  that  they  were  Tories, 
so  high  was  the  popular  feeling  against  those  who  up 
held  the  king.  1  dismounted  myself,  and  mingled  freely 
with  the  rustic  loungers  in  the  tavern,  hearing  much  talk 
of  the  glorious  victory  at  Boston  and  many  curses  against 
the  Philistines.  The  greater  number  of  the  men  were 
themselves  enlisted  militia,  only  the  old  and  the  crippled 
being  willing  to  remain  behind  in  this  great  struggle. 
The  landlord,  a  large  and  florid  person  with  a  long 
tongue,  told  me  much  of  the  occurrences  in  all  the 
neighboring  districts,  relating  with  unction  the  story 
of  the  capture  of  the  British  vessels  that  had  been 
brought  into  Salem  and  to  Beverly  during  the  winter. 
The  whole  coast  had  been  roused  to  great  joy  over  our 
victories  at  sea ;  these  simple  folks  who  lived  beside  the 
ocean  gave  the  greatest  honor  to  a  sailor's  conquest. 
They  had  cause  enough,  too,  for  exultation,  since  early 
in  this  very  month  the  Yankee  Hero  had  captured  a  fine 
brig,  and  Captain  Manly  had  also  seized  two  other  ships. 
Poorly  equipped  for  warfare  on  the  water,  as  we  were, 
we  had  no  cause  to  be  ashamed  of  our  record.  These 
people  were  eager  to  dislodge  the  British  fleet  from 
Nantasket  Roads;  they  felt  it  both  an  insult  and  a 
threat  while  it  lay  so  near  us,  and  — as  simple  folks  are 
ever  —  they  were  eager  to  accomplish  the  most  difficult 
matters  with  great  haste,  recognizing  not  the  obstacles 
that  were  patent  enough  to  other  eyes.  What  I  noted, 
too,  was  that  the  country  people  were  already  prepared 
to  accept  our  independence  ;  this  was  much  talked  of  in 
the  army,  but  I  had  scarcely  thought  to  find  so  forward  a 


224  A    YANKEE    VOLUNTEER. 

spirit  here.  The  tidings  that  an  officer  of  the  Continen 
tal  army  was  at  the  inn  brought  together  a  concourse  of 
spectators,  and  I  was  soon  embarrassed  to  find  myself 
the  center  of  a  crowd  of  gaping  yeomen,  while  the  rosy 
faces  of  the  country  maids  peeped  in  at  the  doors. 
They  were  gathered  to  do  me  honor,  and  so  simple- 
hearted  was  their  curiosity  that  I  had  not  the  heart  to 
offend  them,  and  answered  their  eager  questions  with  all 
the  patience  that  I  could  command.  But  in  the  midst 
of  this  scene  I  heard  a  confusign  of  tongues  without, 
and,  warned  by  previous  experience  what  to  expect, 
pushed  my  way  to  the  door  and  looked  out  upon  the 
street.  I  was  none  too  soon,  and  strange  enough  was 
the  picture  which  met  my  eyes.  Some  of  the  worthies 
of  the  town  were  gathered  beside  Sir  Anthony's  carriage, 
calmly  directing  the  men  who  were  engaged  in  taking 
out  the  horses,  in  spite  of  Basset's  furious  remonstrance. 
In  the  window  was  Sir  Anthony's  red  face,  his  hat 
planted  defiantly  over  his  eyes,  and  his  expression  one 
of  scorn  as  he  watched  the  proceedings  with  open  bel 
ligerence.  The  crowd  about  the  door  of  the  tavern  was 
now  too  "thick  for  Basset  to  reach  me,  but  as  I  appeared 
upon  the  step  he  made  wild  signals  for  help.  At  the 
moment  Sir  Anthony  was  silent,  and  the  bystanders  re 
garded  him  with  the  cold  composure  of  New  England 
men  who  are  determined  upon  their  course.  The  sud 
den  quiet  permitted  my  voice  to  be  heard,  and  I  called 
out  to  them  to  forbear,  that  these  persons  were  under 
my  charge.  At  this,  the  foremost  of  the  group  by  the 
carriage  —  a  tall,  thin  man  who  seemed  of  some  import 
ance  by  his  garb  and  manner  —  turned  upon  me  some 
what  sharply. 

"  I  do  not  know  you,  sir,*'  he  said    in   a  dry  tone, 
"  but  by  your  dress  I  take  you  for  one  of  our  army,  in 


ROYALIST  AND  REBEL.  22$ 

which  case  you  have  fallen  into  evil  company.  We  find 
this  person  here  a  most  pestiferous  Tory,  and  with  a 
tongue  too  profane  and  evil  for  godly  company." 

"The  devil  fly  away  with  me,  if  I  ever  sought  the 
company  of  such  a  bald-faced,  hypocritical  rascal  as 
thou  art ! "  retorted  Sir  Anthony,  with  withering  scorn. 

"  The  sword  of  the  Lord  and  of  Gideon  shall  smite  all 
such,  and  they  shall  be  altogether  confounded  and  cast 
into  the  pit,"  replied  the  other,  in  a  deep  voice ;  and  I 
perceived  by  his  tone  and  manner  that  he  was  a  minister. 

"  Pshaw  !  "  rejoined  Sir  Anthony,  violently  angry  now, 
"  the  pit  will  be  too  full  of  such  Yankee  hypocrites  as 
thou  and  thy  friends  for  an  honest  man  to  fall  into  it, 
even  by  chance.  The  sword  of  Gideon  was  never  yet 
in  the  hands  of  a  white-livered,  long-eared  knave  like 
thee  ! " 

"  Blaspheme  not,  old  man,"  replied  the  minister,  in  a 
deep  voice ;  "  you  are  full  of  years  and  of  venom,  and 
the  hour  of  your  reckoning  is  at  hand." 

"  Oh,  go  to  the  devil ! "  exclaimed  the  old  Tory,  over 
come  with  disgust  and  wrath. 

"  Evil  is  the  end  of  such  an  one,"  began  his  opponent, 
gratified  at  the  eager  attention  of  his  audience,  which 
doubtless  wandered  on  the  Sabbath ;  but  here  I  cut 
short  his  discourse,  having  pushed  my  way  to  his  side. 

"  Reverend  sir,"  I  said,  "  I  pray  your  forbearance ; 
this  argument  but  stirs  up  evil  feeling  amidst  us,  and 
avails  nothing.  This  gentleman  and  his  family  are  jour 
neying  to  Marblehead  under  General  Washington's 
orders,  and  I  am  here  to  see  that  they  are  not  interfered 
with." 

At  this,  there  was  much  eager  remonstrance.  It  ap 
peared  that  they  had  determined  to  send  Sir  Anthony  to 
the  Committee  of  Safety,  believing  him  to  be  a  danger- 

'5 


226  A    YANKEE    VOLUNTEER. 

ous  person,  and  they  had  no  wish  to  let  their  captive 
so  easily  evade  them.  They  even  began  to  look  upon 
me  with  suspicion,  as  being  contaminated  by  evil  com 
munication. 

"  We  should  be  happy,  sir,"  the  reverend  gentleman 
remarked  with  pompous  dignity,  "  to  have  some  evi 
dence  that  you  are  indeed  what  you  appear." 

I  took  the  passports,  which  had  brought  us  through 
the  lines,  from  my  pocket,  and  presented  them. 

"  It  will  not  be  difficult  to  prove  my  identity,"  I  re 
marked  quietly ;  "  I  am  the  son  of  Judge  Allen  of  the 
Court  of  Massachusetts  Bay." 

At  this  announcement  there  was  a  stir  and  murmur 
among  the  bystanders  who  recognized  the  name,  though 
none  of  my  father's  friends  were  now  in  Lynn. 

"  The  son  of  as  great  a  rebel  as  any  of  ye,"  remarked 
Sir  Anthony,  with  a  vicious  enjoyment  of  my  situation ; 
but  here  his  interference  was  cut  short.  Lady  Talbot 
dragged  the  curtains  before  the  window  and  held  them, 
despite  the  tirade  that  went  on  behind  them,  like  the 
continuous  rumble  of  a  thunder-storm. 

The  sight  of  my  papers,  however,  had  an  immediate 
effect.  At  my  first  appearance  the  men  had  let  Basset 
fasten  the  horses  in  their  harness  again ;  and  now,  at  a 
signal  from  me,  he  drove  the  carriage  slowly  away,  the 
crowd  giving  way  to  let  it  pass,  as  though  it  were  infected 
with  a  pestilence. 

"  We  submit  to  his  Excellency's  orders,"  the  spokes 
man  said  gravely ;  "  but,  young  man,  I  warn  you  to 
eschew  the  company  of  such  a  profane  and  bloody  per 
secutor.  *  Evil  communications  corrupt  good  manners.' 
It  is  such  blasphemous  and  evil-minded  persons  who 
lead  astray  the  young  and  destroy  the  seeds  of  the  gospel 
of  peace." 


ROYALIST  AND  REBEL.  22? 

Happy  to  escape  so  easily,  I  thanked  the  reverend 
lecturer  for  his  godly  advice,  and  throwing  myself  in  the 
saddle,  rode  off  in  hot  haste,  to  convoy  my  dangerous 
charge  and  to  escape  further  embarrassments.  I 
breathed  more  freely  when  our  little  cortege  was  once 
more  upon  the  open  road,  with  no  chance  of  interference 
until  we  reached  Salem.  There  I  knew  that  I  could 
protect  them,  especially  since  Sir  Anthony  was  himself 
well  known  to  the  townspeople. 


CHAPTER  XXIX. 

DEATH    KEEPS    HIS   OWN   ACCOUNT. 

IN  spite  of  the  untoward  delay  at  Lynn,  and  Sir  An 
thony's  outburst  of  fury,  we  entered  Salem  in  good  order 
and  with  much  decency  of  demeanor.  The  foremost 
coach  had  the  appearance  of  a  hearse,  with  its  tightly 
drawn  curtains,  but  it  gave  no  sign  of  the  volcano  smol 
dering  within.  I  rode  beside  it,  that  I  might  be  the 
better  prepared  for  any  exigency,  and  the  other  carriage 
followed  at  a  short  distance. 

The  sight  of  the  familiar  scene  was  welcome  to  me, 
for  my  childhood's  home  has  ever  held  a  warm  place 
in  my  heart.  I  looked  eagerly  about  to  assure  myself 
that  there  was  no  change,  and  I  found  none.  There 
were  the  bleak  and  rocky  uplands,  and  the  town  still 
bore  the  aspect  of  winter,  the  gray  shingled  roofs  showing 
weather-beaten  in  the  afternoon  sunlight  that  made  red 
fires  on  the  window-panes,  until  they  looked  out  of  the 
sober  houses  like  fiery  eyes.  The  salt  wind,  blowing 
keenly  downward  from  the  Grand  Banks,  swept  the  dark 
blue  waters  of  Massachusetts  Bay,  and  the  waves  beat 
fiercely  on  the  wharves.  The  streets  were  quiet,  as 
upon  the  Sabbath  ;  in  truth,  all  the  towns  of  the  province 
had  given  of  their  best  and  bravest  to  the  army,  and 
this  change  was  plain  enough  to  any  watchful  eye.  As 
we  entered  Essex  Street,  the  children  there  at  play, 
catching  sight  of  my  uniform,  raised  the  hue  and  cry, 
and  soon  we  had  a  rabble  of  little  folk  close  upon  our 


DEATH  KEEPS  HIS  OWN  ACCOUNT.        22$ 

heels,  while  at  the  windows  appeared  the  eager  faces 
of  matrons  and  maids.  Being  so  well  acquainted,  I 
found  myself  saluting  house  after  house,  as  we  passed, 
while  the  crowd  behind  gathered  strength,  as  a  child's 
snowball  on  a  winter's  day.  The  stir  we  made,  and 
these  signs,  however  small,  of  excitement  made  me 
firm  in  my  resolve  to  make  no  stop  at  Salem,  but  to 
push  on  for  Marblehead.  I  dared  not  risk  another  scene, 
and  moreover,  since  Sir  Anthony  had  refused  my  hos 
pitality,  I  was  loath  to  have  them  linger  in  the  town  to 
cause  remark.  I  contented  myself  with  a  glance  at  the 
old  house,  as  we  passed  it,  and  evading  those  of  my 
acquaintance  who  would  have  stayed  me  from  my  pur 
pose,  hurried  my  charges  out  of  the  dear  old  place  and 
with  much  ado  got  them  across  the  ferry.  Slowly  and 
laboriously  we  climbed  the  hill  beyond  it  and  continued 
upon  our  journey,  and  ).  was  not  without  uneasiness 
when  I  thought  of  the  long  drive  and  of  Joyce,  already 
weary  with  the  trials  of  the  siege.  The  latter  end  of  a 
day's  travel  is  ever  the  most  tedious,  and  it  seemed 
long  before  we  came  in  sight  of  Marblehead.  The 
town  had  in  winter  a  bleak  and  barren  aspect ;  it  ap 
peared  as  if  the  houses  were  perched  upon  the  sheer 
side  of  the  cliffs,  and  the  fierce  winds  swept  it,  dashing 
the  salt  spray  upon  it,  exhausting  all  their  fury,  yet  pre 
vailing  not  against  that  which  had  its  foundation  not 
on  sand,  but  upon  rock. 

The  Talbots'  house,  standing  as  it  did  a  little  above 
the  village,  could  be  approached  quietly,  and  I  deter 
mined  to  part  with  the  family  here,  knowing  them  safe, 
and  having  no  wish  to  intrude  upon  their  home-coming. 
I  gave  a  few  brief  directions  to  Basset,  and  attempting 
no  speech  with  Lady  Talbot,  rode  back  to  the  second 
carriage,  which  halted  at  a  sign  from  me.  Joyce  looked 


230  A    YANKEE   VOLUNTEER. 

out  eagerly,  startled  at  the  unexpected  stop,  but  seeing 
me,  flushed  a  little,  and  her  eyes  sank,  resting  on  the 
flower  in  her  hand,  the  same  which  I  had  given  her. 
The  maids  being  all  eyes  and  ears,  after  the  manner  of 
servants,  I  could  say  but  a  few  words  of  formal  farewell. 

"  I  leave  you  now,  Miss  Talbot,"  I  said  gravely, 
"  since  my  service  is  no  longer  required ;  but  you  know 
where  to  find  me,  if  any  need  arises." 

"  Nay,"  she  replied  with  some  embarrassment,  "  you 
should  not  ride  back  at  this  hour ;  both  you  and  your 
horse  must  be  weary.  At  least,  we  may  mend  your 
case  a  little  now.  You  must  rest  awhile  here." 

I  smiled,  I  fear  with  bitterness. 

"  I  thank  you,"  I  answered  quietly;  "  but  I  know  that 
I  am  too  unwelcome  a  guest  in  Sir  Anthony's  house  to 
avail  myself  of  the  kindness  of  your  offer.  May  it  be 
well  with  you  until  we  meet  once  more." 

At  my  words,  purposely  reproachful,  the  blood  rose 
to  her  temples  and  her  lips  quivered  a  little.  So  lovely 
was  she,  in  her  angry  confusion,  that  I  could  not  bear 
to  take  my  leave,  and  lingered  a  moment  by  the  carriage. 
Then,  as  she  continued  silent,  I  lifted  my  hat  in  a  grave 
salute. 

"Farewell,"  I  said  gently. 

She  raised  her  eyes  to  my  face,  and  they  were  blue 
as  two  violets,  and  I  thought  a  tear  shone  on  her  lashes. 

"  Farewell,  Captain  Allen,"  she  replied  in  a  low  voice ; 
"  think  not  too  hardly  of  us  —  we  are  not  as  ungrateful 
as  we  seem." 

With  this  we  parted,  but  the  glance  she  gave  me  set 
my  heart  to  throbbing  as  I  rode  away.  Her  blue  eyes 
shone  before  me  all  the  way  to  Salem.  The  folly  of 
youth  ?  It  may  be,  but  a  marvellous  sweet  folly  it  was. 
I  was  not  as  some  who  have  many  loves.  I  had  never 


DEATH  KEEPS  HIS  OWN  ACCOUNT.        231 

but  the  one,  and  she  made  all  my  life  to  me ;  its  sun- 
shine  and  its  shadows  were  ever  woven  about  her  central 
figure,  and  I  was  content  to  have  it  so. 

When  I  entered  Salem  again,  the  sun  had  set  and  the 
glory  of  the  western  sky  clothed  all  the  landscape 
in  an  afterglow.  Lights  were  burning  in  the  old  house 
as  I  dismounted  at  the  gate,  and  my  aunt  had  the  door 
open  before  I  reached  the  portico.  Alone  and  anxious 
so  long,  she  greeted  me  with  delight,  and  it  was  good  to 
enter  the  great  hall,  with  her  hand  in  mine,  and  her 
kind  old  face  beaming  its  welcome  for  me.  The  light 
of  the  departing  day  shone  in  the  great  window,  that 
had  been  the  resource  of  my  childhood,  and  I  could  see 
the  bare  tendrils  of  the  vine  that  swung  before  it.  In 
the  chimney  blazed  a  fire  of  logs  and  driftwood ;  the 
warmth  and  radiance  made  the  hall  a  cheerful  spot,  and 
the  red  light  flashed  upon  the  breastplate  of  my  Puritan 
ancestor.  The  scene  was  homelike,  even  to  the  savory 
odor  of  roasted  fowl  that  came  from  the  kitchen ;  lover 
as  I  was,  the  ride  had  sharpened  my  appetite  so  that 
this  was  not  the  least  welcome  part  of  the  whole.  I  re 
member  how  joyfully  they  waited  upon  my  wants,  my 
aunt  and  the  old  maidservant ;  the  men  of  the  house 
hold  had  all  gone  to  the  army.  The  women  were  so 
eager  for  tidings  that  they  scarce  gave  me  time  to  eat 
the  meal  that  their  care  had  prepared.  My  father  had 
not  been  home  for  two  months,  and  I  was  thus  the  more 
welcome  and  honored  visitor. 

In  the  days  that  followed,  I  was  absorbed  with  my 
own  matters  and  had  much  business  to  dispatch.  Not 
knowing  how  soon  I  should  be  ordered  away,  I  had  the 
more  need  to  devote  myself  to  our  affairs.  I  was  much 
interrupted,  however,  and  eagerly  sought  by  the  towns 
people  who  had  relatives  or  friends  in  the  army,  and 


232  A    YANKEE    VOLUNTEER. 

were  anxious  for  tidings.  I  noticed  that  here,  too,  as 
at  Boston,  the  people  were  inclined  toward  independ 
ence  ;  no  longer  desiring  to  reverence  the  king,  who  had 
oppressed  us  through  his  ministers.  The  feeling  against 
his  Majesty  ran  high ;  his  speech  before  Parliament  had 
provoked  the  colonists,  and  the  old  tolerance  for  royal 
faults  was  dead.  A  new  spirit  was  abroad  amongst 
men;  already  in  France  the  young  king,  Louis  XVI., 
had  to  contend  with  the  rising  forces  of  a  national  oppo 
sition,  and  in  Europe,  as  well  as  in  the  provinces,  men 
were  impatient  of  the  old  oppressions ;  the  effete  laws 
of  an  age  that  was  dead  could  no  longer  serve  to  fetter 
the  limbs  of  freemen.  In  England  there  were  con 
servative  minds  to  recognize  the  dangers  of  the  doctrine 
which  desired  to  destroy  American  freedom  ;  had  the 
Ministerialists  succeeded,  the  liberties  of  England  would 
also  have  been  subverted.  The  mother  country  could 
not  afford  to  cripple  and  destroy  her  child.  The  re 
action  of  her  cruelty  would  have  been  her  own  ruin. 

The  Province  of  Massachusetts  Bay  had  ever  been 
foremost  in  the  struggle ;  so  far  she,  and  she  alone,  had 
borne  the  pain  and  privation  of  the  conflict ;  therefore 
it  was  natural  that  she  should  look  eagerly  for  the  fulfil 
ment  of  her  liberty.  The  flag  of  England  waved  no 
more  above  the  Custom  House  at  Salem,  and  the  king's 
arms  had  been  removed  from  all  public  places;  at 
Marblehead  they  had  been  torn  down  from  above  the 
altar  of  Saint  Michael's.  To  this  day,  you  may  see  the 
place  in  the  old  church  where  his  Majesty's  arms  were 
set  before  the  people ;  no  fit  spot,  either,  for  the  symbol 
of  an  earthly  ruler.  The  stern  purpose  of  the  nation 
was  aroused,  and  men  were  ready  to  lay  down  their  lives 
for  their  liberty.  Our  enemies  did  greatly  err  in  that 
they  esteemed  too  little  the  courage  and  the  strength  of 


DEATH  KEEPS  HIS  OWN  ACCOUNT.        233 

the  colonists.  It  is  not  ever  men  to  whom  war  is  a  pro 
fession  who  make  the  noblest  battle,  rather  those  who 
defend  their  country  and  their  homes,  and  feel  their 
cause  is  that  of  justice  and  of  honor.  The  French  and 
Indian  wars  had  been  a  school  in  which  our  men  had 
learned  to  fight,  though  they  were  yet  simple  rustics, 
being  slow  to  learn  the  vices  that  are  the  soldier's  ruin. 
The.re  is  no  greater  spur  to  valor  than  the  knowledge 
that  your  right  arm  is  the  defence  of  all  you  hold  most 
dear  and  sacred.  The  honest  yeomen,  whom  the 
British  regulars  affected  to  despise,  were  the  greatest 
strength  of  the  colonies.  He  who  hath  the  most  to 
lose  will  surely  make  the  hottest  fight. 

Knowing  that  Joyce  was  safe  under  her  own  roof,  for 
the  good  people  of  Marblehead  forbore  to  taunt  a  van 
quished  foe,  I  did  not  intrude  upon  the  household. 
Her  words,  and  most  of  all  her  glance,  at  parting  had 
aroused  the  hopes  that  her  perversity  cast  down,  yet  I 
was  willing  to  let  her  feel  that  I  would  not  thrust  myself 
upon  her.  The  rebel,  as  she  was  pleased  to  call  me, 
had  pride  enough  to  remain  absent.  I  was  the  more 
startled,  therefore,  to  receive  one  day  the  tidings  of 
Sir  Anthony's  death.  He  had  been  stricken  with  apo 
plexy  in  the  midst  of  one  of  his  violent  outbursts  of 
temper,  and  died  almost  immediately.  The  announce 
ment  shocked  me,  and  I  felt  both  pain  and  pity  for  the 
turbulent  old  man  who  had  come  to  his  end  in  so  un 
seemly  a  manner.  In  the  old  days,  before  our  unhappy 
differences,  there  had  been  much  kindness  between  us, 
and  I  remembered  only  the  better  part.  It  seemed,  too, 
the  more  pitiful  because  his  petulant  violence  had  made 
so  much  unhappiness  in  the  household  that  there  would 
be  but  few  tears  shed.  Death  is  the  more  painful  when 
it  brings  but  little  natural  sorrow.  Coming  as  it  did 


234  A    YANKEE    VOLUNTEER. 

when  old  friends  and  neighbors  were  estranged  by  the 
fierceness  of  the  dead  man's  quarrel,  it  was  the  more 
difficult  for  the  two  women.  Dick  had  gone  with  the 
fleet  to  Halifax ;  ten  days  after  the  evacuation  of  Boston, 
General  Howe  left  Nantasket  Roads  with  the  greater 
portion  of  the  ships,  though  enough  remained  to  annoy 
the  people  of  the  province.  I  felt  that  the  hour  had 
come  when  I  was  once  more  needed,  and  went  at  once 
to  Marblehead  ;  arriving  none  too  soon,  for  Lady  Talbot 
and  Joyce  were  in  sore  perplexity,  with  no  friendly  hand 
to  aid  them.  But  at  my  coming  all  this  was  swiftly 
altered ;  many  of  the  neighbors  had  held  aloof,  rather 
from  the  fear  of  intruding  than  from  any  evil  feeling, 
and  at  my  reproaches  quickly  came  to  do  their  part. 
The  old  Tory,  so  fierce  in  his  hatred  of  his  Whig  country 
men,  was  carried  to  his  last  rest  by  these  very  rebels. 
We  took  his  body  to  Salem,  and  laid  it  in  the  Charter 
Street  burial-ground,  and  only  Joyce  and  her  mother 
were  there,  for  Dick  —  Sir  Richard  now  —  could  not 
come  to  them. 

When  it  was  over,  I  endeavored,  and  so  also  did 
Aunt  Dorcas,  to  persuade  Lady  Talbot  and  Joyce  to 
rest  that  night  with  us ;  but,  remembering  no  doubt 
Sir  Anthony's  feeling,  they  steadily  refused,  and  we 
drove  back  to  Marblehead.  When  I  helped  them  from 
the  carriage,  both  mother  and  daughter  bade  me  enter, 
and  after  an  instant  of  hesitation  I  obeyed,  because  I 
longed  for  one  word  with  Joyce.  And  before  I  went 
away,  I  found  my  opportunity.  We  were  alone  in  the 
library,  where  a  fire  burned  upon  the  hearth,  its  glow 
making  the  room  cheerful  despite  the  rainy  day.  Joyce 
stood  before  the  hearth,  her  figure  looking  slender  in 
deed  in  her  black  gown,  and  her  face  quite  pale.  She 
was  weary,  I  thought,  with  all  the  trouble  and  the  strain, 


DEATH  KEEPS  HIS  OWN  ACCOUNT.        235 

and  I  noticed  the  soft  shadows  under  her  wonderful 
eyes.  I  had  bidden  Lady  Talbot  farewell  and  stood 
before  Joyce  now,  hat  in  hand,  ready  to  depart.  Both 
of  us  were  silent,  and  in  the  pause  we  heard  the  rain 
driven  fiercely  against  the  window-pane.  It  was  she 
who  broke  the  silence  with  a  glance  of  half-timid 
gratitude. 

"  We  have  again  cause  to  thank  you,"  she  said  gently; 
"  you  are  more  kind  than  we  deserve,  but,  believe  me, 
we  are  not  unmindful  of  our  obligations." 

"  Obligations  !  "  I  exclaimed.  "  That  which  we  do  for 
love  confers  no  obligation ;  the  word  is  odious.  I  ask 
no  thanks,  save  only  that  you  will  think  more  kindly 
of— 'the  rebel.'  " 

Her  cheek  flushed  at  my  reproach,  and  she  kept  her 
eyes  upon  the  fire. 

"  I  fear  I  think  too  kindly  of  him,"  she  said  softly. 

In  an  instant  I  had  her  hand  in  mine,  and  though  it 
fluttered  a  little  in  my  clasp  at  first,  she  did  not  with 
draw  it,  but  turned  her  head  so  that  I  saw  only  the  rosy 
cheek  and  little  ear  and  the  soft  tresses  of  her  brown 
hair. 

"  Joyce,"  I  whispered,  "  torment  me  no  longer  —  is 
it  possible  that  you  love  me  still?  One  moment,  I 
believe  it  —  the  next,  your  unkindness  drives  me  from 
your  side.  I  am  a  dull  fellow,  Joyce,  I  cannot  read 
your  moods ;  it  seems  to  me  that  if  you  loved  me  as  I 
have  ever  loved  you,  you  could  not  but  tell  me  so  ! " 

She  turned  and  looked  up  at  me  a  moment,  and  I 
saw  a  flash  of  some  quick  thought  in  her  eyes. 

"  Yes,"  she  said  in  a  demure  and  quiet  voice,  "  you 
are  very  dull,  Captain  Allen." 

"  I  know  it,"  I  said  with  feeling ;  "  I  have  only  wit 
enough  to  love  you  well." 


236  A    YANKEE    VOLUNTEER. 

"  So  you  used  to  tell  me  when  we  were  children," 
she  replied  in  the  same  meek  voice. 

Tormented  by  her  mood,  I  caught  her  suddenly  in 
my  arms  and  kissed  her.  For  an  instant  I  thought  she 
clung  to  me,  and  then  she  struggled  to  be  free,  her  eyes 
shining,  and  a  deeper  color  in  her  cheeks. 

"  Let  me  go,  Captain  Allen,"  she  said  quickly,  but  not 
unkindly,  "  you  forget  that  I  am  a  Tory.  Are  these 
rebel  manners?  " 

Yet  I  thought  that,  but  for  the  sadness  of  the  hour, 
she  would  have  smiled.  I  released  her,  but  kept  her 
hand  in  mine  a  moment  longer. 

"  Joyce,"  I  cried  earnestly,  "  I  will  not  let  you 
go  ! " 

"  Nay,"  she  said  demurely,  "  there  comes  the  servant 
to  tell  you  that  the  carriage  is  ready  to  take  you  away. 
Farewell,  sir,  and  study  to  learn  more  courtly  manners, 
even  though  you  be  in  a  rebel  camp." 

It  was  true  that  there  were  steps  in  the  hall,  and  I 
knew  that  I  had  but  the  moment.  I  kissed  her  hand, 
not  once  but  many  times. 

"  Farewell,"  I  whispered,  "  we  will  meet  soon  —  soon 
again  !  " 

She  gave  me  a  strange  look,  and,  with  a  swift  move 
ment,  put  her  arms  around  my  neck  and  kissed  me 
once,  then  turned  and  fled  out  at  one  door  as  her 
mother  and  the  servant  came  to  the  other  to  tell  me 
that,  if  I  must  go,  the  carriage  waited  my  pleasure.  I 
had  told  them  I  was  in  haste  and  had  asked  to  be  so 
warned,  but  now  I  was  sorry  for  my  own  deed  and  went 
with  great  reluctance. 

I  know  not  how  I  passed  the  night  or  the  next  morn 
ing;  doubtless  I  performed  the  ordinary  duties  of  the 
day,  but  I  thought  through  it  all  that  the  end  of  the 


DEATH  KEEPS  HIS  OWN  ACCOUNT.        237 

trouble  between  us  seemed  at  hand,  for  surely  she 
loved  me  still. 

In  the  afternoon  I  crossed  the  ferry,  and  so  blind  was 
I  that  I  noted  no  change  in  the  old  house  when  I  drew 
rein  before  it  and  sprang  from  the  saddle.  Three  times 
1  made  the  knocker  ring  upon  the  door,  and  the  silence 
of  the  place  awoke  a  keen  alarm  within  my  heart.  I 
went  around  it,  and  tried  the  rear  door  toward  the 
orchard,  but  in  vain.  Then  from  the  stables  I  saw  an 
old  man  emerging,  whom  they  employed  to  keep  the 
place  tidy  in  their  absence.  I  plied  him  with  such 
sharp  questions  that  he  seemed  for  the  moment  too 
bewildered  to  answer  any  of  them.  But  at  last  he 
found  his  tongue,  and  told  me  that  he  had  been  left,  as 
usual,  in  charge.  The  family  had  gone  away  suddenly 
in  the  night,  whither  he  knew  not,  or  he  would  not  tell, 
and  though  I  pressed  him  close  I  could  draw  nothing 
from  him  save  that  he  believed  that  "  Master  Dick  "  had 
come  in  disguise  the  evening  before.  Some  one  had 
come  secretly,  and  they,  Lady  Talbot  and  Joyce,  being 
prepared,  had  gone  away  together  in  the  carriage. 
Little  by  little,  I  learned  that  he  suspected  that  they 
went  to  join  the  British  ships  at  Nantasket,  and,  it  might 
be,  were  bound  for  Halifax.  More  I  could  not  get, 
and  so  was  forced  to  leave  him  and  return  as  I  had 
come,  but  in  a  vastly  different  mood. 

Gone  —  fled  from  me  and  without  a  word  !  Ah,  yes, 
a  rebel  might  not  share  their  counsels,  yet  surely  she 
could  trust  me.  At  the  first,  my  heart  was  full  of  bitter 
reproaches,  then  I  remembered  her  glance  at  me  when 
I  bade  her  farewell,  with  the  assurance  that  we  would 
meet  so  soon  again.  It  was  this,  then,  that  had  prompted 
her  to  so  relent,  the  thought  of  separation,  and  for  this 
had  she  kissed  me.  And  she  was  gone  —  gone  to  be 


238  A    YANKEE    VOLUNTEER. 

with  her  brother  and  the  men  against  whom  I  must 
fight,  gone  to  cast  her  lot  with  my  enemies ;  but  she  had 
loved  me  well  enough  to  regret  the  parting,  and  that 
one  kiss  robbed  this  new  slight  of  half  its  sting.  Though 
disappointed  and  cast  down,  yet  never  for  a  moment 
did  I  dream  of  giving  her  up.  Fate  had  parted  us,  not 
her  will;  I  believed  that,  and  I  would  overcome  even 
my  fate.  My  nature  was  stubborn  ever,  though  so  slow. 


CHAPTER  XXX. 

I   JOURNEY  SOUTHWARD. 

I  WAS  in  Salem  on  furlough  through  April  and  May, 
and  rejoiced  at  the  opportunity  to  remain ;  I  had  a 
large  share  of  the  New  Englander's  love  of  home,  and 
camp  life  appealed  less  to  me  than  to  other  men. 
Moreover  I  felt  keenly  the  enormous  uncertainty  of  our 
struggle,  and  knew  that  war  might  yet  lay  waste  these 
lovely  places.  Tidings  came  to  us  constantly  of  the 
preparations  which  England  had  made  against  us,  and 
a  part  of  her  fleet  lay  still  at  Nantasket  Roads.  The 
thought  of  a  surrender  of  our  just  rights  and  sacred  liber 
ties  came  never  to  our  hearts,  but  the  bravest  recognized 
the  magnitude  of  the  struggle  and  our  own  great  weak 
ness.  Our  poverty  and  our  lack  of  ammunition,  otir 
poorly  organized  army,  nothing  more  than  bands  of  yeo 
men,  were  to  be  arrayed  against  the  flower  of  England's 
army  reinforced  by  a  horde  of  German  hirelings  and 
savages.  Ay,  the  king  had  hired  Hessians  to  slay  his 
own  subjects,  so  they  told  us,  and  so  we  came  to  know, 
to  our  sorrow  and  his  eternal  shame. 

My  stay  at  Salem  was  a  busy  time,  and  in  the  nine 
weeks  of  it  I  happily  settled  many  troublesome  matters 
and  quieted  and  comforted  a  little  my  aunt,  whose  so 
journ  in  the  old  home  was  tedious  and  lonely  enough  in 
the  absence  of  her  brother.  I  was  made  much  of  by 
the  women  folks,  being  a  soldier  and  soon  to  go  out  to 
fight  again.  They  have  a  great  admiration  for  any  quality 


240  A    YANKEE    VOLUNTEER. 

which  they  mistake  for  courage  in  a  man,  and  doubtless 
I  could  have  found  comfort  for  my  hurt  at  the  hands  of 
Joyce,  had  I  chosen,  but  I  never  greatly  considered 
other  women,  being  by  nature  steadfast  and  seeing  no 
one  who  ever,  in  my  eyes,  compared  with  her,  either  in 
beauty  or  in  spirit.  Verily,  I  believe  that  I  loved  her 
the  better  because  that  she  quarrelled  with  me ;  the 
fairest  roses  have  ever  the  longest  thorns,  and  a  woman 
who  has  no  touch  of  spirit  is  but  a  poor  creature. 

Before  I  went  away,  my  father  came  to  Salem,  and  for 
a  few  days  we  had  the  happiness  of  being  once  more 
together.  His  life  was  now  one  constant  stretch  of  pub 
lic  service,  and  he  could  remain  but  a  short  while,  being 
required  at  Philadelphia.  He  had  been  to  the  Quaker 
city  while  General  Washington  was  there,  as  President 
Hancock's  guest,  in  April,  and  my  father  was  more  and 
more  impressed  with  the  simplicity  and  strength  of  char 
acter  of  our  commander-in-chief.  Though  often  assailed 
by  jealousy,  his  Excellency  grew  daily  stronger  in  the 
affection  and  esteem  of  the  army.  Some  there  were  who 
found  him  cold ;  I  myself  had  felt  his  displeasure  :  but 
to  the  greater  number  of  us  he  seemed  most  happily 
fitted  for  his  high  duties.  That  he  was  unselfish  and 
devoted  was  patent  even  to  those  who  were  envious  of 
his  hold  upon  the  people.  Some  yet  doubted  his  mili 
tary  skill,  believing  more  in  General  Charles  Lee,  who,  I 
think,  desired  always  to  fan  the  flame  of  discontent ;  but 
we  were  among  those  who  believed  that  our  general 
would  yet  convince  the  doubting  of  his  military  genius. 

The  state  of  affairs  in  New  York,  my  father  told  me, 
was  most  delicate.  Many  of  the  people  about  Man 
hattan  and  Staten  Island  were  most  notorious  Tories, 
and  in  constant  communication  with  Governor  Tryon, 
who  was  on  board  a  ship-of-war  below  Staten  Island. 


I  JOURNEY  SOUTHWARD.  241 

The  royal  mayor,  Whitehead  Hicks,  had  resigned  his 
office  to  become  a  justice  of  the  Supreme  Court,  and  he 
had  been  succeeded  by  one  David  Matthews,  also  a  hot 
royalist.  Thus  the  Tories  found  encouragement  on 
every  hand,  and  were  the  more  inflated  by  the  tidings 
that  the  king's  fleet  would  presently  come  down  from 
Halifax.  General  Putnam  had  been  in  New  York  since 
the  first  of  April,  and  spared  neither  time  nor  labor  to 
strengthen  the  fortifications  ;  but  it  was  a  grave  matter, 
since  the  city  could  be  approached  on  both  sides  by 
large  ships,  and  we  were  without  means  to  destroy 
them.  In  the  heart  of  the  province,  too,  was  the  fes 
ter  of  Indian  trouble ;  the  Johnsons  were  dealing  con 
stantly  with  the  Mohawks,  and  there  were  rumors  that 
King  George  was  concluding  an  alliance  with  the  Six 
Nations  against  us.  In  the  event  of  the  arrival  of  the 
king's  forces,  the  Tories  would  surely  hatch  some  fresh 
trouble.  Then  there  remained  ever  the  old  difficulty  of 
short  enlistments  and  militia  eager  to  return  homeward. 
Verily,  the  liberty  of  the  United  Colonies  was  in  peril, 
and  we  had  no  hope  save  in  the  Lord  of  Hosts,  to 
whom  we  did  most  fervently  and  constantly  commend 
our  cause. 

It  was  but  two  days  before  I  left  Salem  that  my 
father  received  tidings  from  an  old  acquaintance  at 
Halifax.  The  letter  came  safely  its  long,  slow  journey, 
and  told  us  much  of  the  British  fleet  and  the  prepara 
tions  to  destroy  the  patriots.  The  expedition,  so  said 
the  missive,  would  be  directed  against  New  York,  and 
Lord  Howe,  General  Howe's  sailor  brother,  was  to 
bring  large  reinforcements;  coming  armed  with  full 
powers  to  deal  with  the  "  rebels."  From  this  letter  too 
we  learned  that  which  concerned  me  more  especially, 
the  destination  of  the  Talbots.  The  writer,  a  careful 

16 


242  A    YANKEE    VOLUNTEER. 

and  observant  old  man,  made  mention  of  all  the  Tory 
families  with  the  fleet,  whose  names  he  could  discover. 
He  spoke  therefore  of  the  late  coming  of  Lady  Talbot 
and  her  young  daughter,  and  then  told  in  detail  of  a 
duel  between  Dick  and  a  young  officer  of  Mr.  Howe's 
staff,  which  had  caused  great  offence  in  high  quarters. 
Dick  was  the  aggressor  and  also  the  victor,  his  opponent 
barely  escaping  with  his  life,  and  General  Howe  had 
visited  his  displeasure  upon  the  hot-tempered  young 
offender,  the  whole  affair  causing  some  scandal  and 
leaving  Richard  Talbot  under  a  cloud.  At  this  my 
father  shook  his  head  with  a  grave  smile. 

"  His  father's  temper,"  he  said,  with  a  deprecating 
glance  at  me,  "and  he  will  not  easily  forgive  the  slight 
that  Mr.  Howe  has  put  upon  him  before  the  army.  I 
fear  me,  Dick  is  like  to  be  in  yet  greater  trouble  before 
the  end  of  it  is  seen." 

"  Ay,"  I  responded  thoughtfully,  "  and  he  is  the  less 
fitted  to  be  a  guardian  for  his  mother  and  sister.  What 
madness  prompted  Lady  Talbot  to  leave  the  safe 
shelter  of  her  home  at  Marblehead  to  follow  the  fortunes 
of  the  army?" 

"  No  madness,"  quoth  my  father.  "  but  a  mother's 
heart;  her  trust  in  her  son  is  doubtless  equal  to  her 
love  for  him.  Moreover,  the  good  woman  has  been 
half  her  life  beneath  the  rule  of  Sir  Anthony,  and  she 
cannot  guide  herself.  A  woman  who  has  been  the 
subject  of  a  tyrant  is,  when  she  loses  him,  like  a  ship 
without  a  pilot,  and  must  needs  founder  in  the  sea  unless 
another  master  takes  the  helm.  I  have  seen  such  cases 
often ;  it  is  like  the  child  of  a  stern  parent  who  has  no 
will,  and  escaping  from  the  rigid  control  of  its  infancy 
runs  riot  in  new  freedom  or  is  pushed  into  another 
bondage.  Our  natures  are  like  clay  in  the  potter's 


I  JOURNEY  SOUTHWARD.  243 

hands ;  the  first  touches  shape  us,  either  to  strength  or 
weakness." 

"Lady  Talbot  has  always  had  my  pity,"  I  returned, 
"  as  well  as  my  respect  for  her  long  endurance,  though 
I  have  never  yet  seen  her  reason  for  marrying  as  she 
did." 

"  I  knew  her  in  my  young  days,"  replied  my  father, 
"  when  I  visited  England,  more  frequently  than  we  are 
like  to  visit  it  again.  Lady  Talbot  was  Elizabeth  Lyle, 
the  daughter  of  an  impoverished  nobleman,  and  one  of 
seven  sisters.  She  was  not  young  when  she  married  Sir 
Arfthony ;  it  had  seemed  that  she  might  be  a  penniless 
spinster.  Belike,  she  looked  upon  her  florid,  loud- 
voiced  suitor  as  a  blessed  opportunity  to  escape  from 
poverty.  She  was  a  pretty  woman,  with  bright  hair  and 
pink  cheeks,  when  they  were  wedded.  But  twenty-five 
years  of  slavery  tell  upon  both  soul  and  body.  She 
faded  very  quickly,  her  voice  growing  softer  as  his  grew 
more  boisterous,  and  her  cheeks  paling  as  his  empurpled 
with  high  living.  Verily,  son  John,  some  women  live 
the  lives  of  martyrs  without  the  crown.  I  doubt  not 
that  her  life  has  been  one  of  great  and  painful  trial. 
Happily,  both  her  children  inherited  her  beauty,  though  I 
fear  me  that  both  have  a  touch  of  their  father's  spirit." 

At  this  I  smiled,  and  my  father,  seeing  that  I  took  the 
remark  in  good  part,  laughed  softly. 

"  It  is  better  so,"  I  said  cheerfully,  "  since  they  will 
never  need  to  walk  in  their  mother's  gentle  footsteps." 

"  Happily  not,"  he  replied,  "  and  we  will  presently 
hear  of  Dick's  discontent ;  I  only  fear  that  his  hot 
blood  may  get  him  in  yet  greater  trouble,  and  I  would 
be  grieved  to  see  any  harm  come  to  the  lad." 

"  I  trust  that  he  may  be  able  to  take  care  of  his 
mother  and  his  sister,"  I  replied  gravely. 


244  A    YANKEE    VOLUNTEER. 

"  For  that  I  have  no  thought,"  my  father  rejoined, 
"  since  Lady  Talbot  and  Joyce  will  make  their  own 
friends,  and  Mr.  Howe  knows  their  position  and  their 
worth." 

"  And  her  beauty ! "  I  added  bitterly  to  myself, 
thinking  of  Beresford  and  all  the  other  gay  young  offi 
cers  who  in  their  enforced  idleness  had  the  greater 
opportunity  to  gain  a  woman's  heart.  Love  finds  ever 
some  means  to  prick  a  sore  heart,  and  yet  did  I  re 
proach  myself  as  a  mean  and  jealous  fellow  to  have  so 
little  trust  in  the  affection  she  had  shown  for  me  so 
lately. 

On  the  first  of  June  I  received  my  orders  to  rejoin 
my  regiment  at  New  York,  and  left  Salem  immediately, 
my  father  remaining  yet  a  few  days  at  home.  I  was 
the  more  sorry  to  go  at  that  time,  because  an  expe 
dition  was  being  planned  against  the  British  fleet  at 
Nantasket.  It  consisted  now  of  eight  ships,  two  snows, 
two  brigs,  and  one  schooner ;  the  whole  commanded  by 
Commodore  Banks.  There  were  many  Highlanders  on 
board  the  vessels,  and  the  array  was  formidable,  so  that 
the  prospect  of  a  skirmish  with  them  was  not  without 
its  own  excitement.  But  my  orders  debarred  me  of 
the  honor  of  being  one  of  the  party  that  finally  drove 
them  to  sea  on  the  fourteenth  day  of  the  month,  being 
the  anniversary  of  the  day  set  by  the  British  Parliament 
as  the  last  on  which  trading  vessels  should  leave  or 
enter  the  port  of  Boston.  Thus  did  Massachusetts  Bay 
confound  and  scatter  her  enemies. 

Meanwhile  I  had  rested  but  one  night  in  Boston  and 
ridden  on  southward  with  what  speed  I  could.  But  as 
I  neared  the  Hudson,  I  was  forced  to  change  my  route, 
being  warned  that  the  road  was  full  of  Tories  and  horse- 
s,tealers  ;  so  I  crossed  the  river  at  Continental  Ferry,  be- 


I  JOURNEY  SOUTHWARD.  24$ 

low  Fishkill,  and  got  my  dinner  at  a  tavern  some  ten 
miles  farther  on.  Here  I  found  some  worthless  fellows 
and  a  number  of  our  soldiers,  drinking  and  idling  their 
time  away,  for  which  I  rebuked  them  sharply,  to  their 
great  displeasure.  So  ill  did  it  set  upon  their  stomachs 
that  one  of  them  retaliated  by  stealing  one  of  my  pistols 
from  me.  But  this  I  recovered  again  in  a  very  simple 
manner.  Missing  it  from  my  holster,  in  the  morning, 
when  the  whole  party  of  them  were  at  breakfast,  I  stood 
upon  a  bench  and  addressed  them.  I  told  them  that 
there  were  Tories  amongst  them  —  which  I  doubt  not 
was  true,  though  I  said  it  but  to  serve  my  purpose  — 
and,  I  added,  it  behooved  them  to  discover  these  secret 
enemies  of  the  commonwealth  and  to  apprehend  them. 
Then  several  of  them  asked  loudly  for  my  reasons  for 
this  suspicion.  I  replied  promptly  that  some  thievish 
knave  had  stolen  my  pistol,  that  we  had  no  thieves  in 
the  Continental  army,  —  which  was  a  lie,  but  gained  my 
ends,  —  and  therefore  it  was  plain  that  there  was  a  Tory 
in  their  midst.  As  I  anticipated,  this  created  no  little 
uproar,  and  they  began  to  accuse  one  another ;  but  it 
was  not  until  I  was  mounting  that  a  sheepish-faced 
rustic  brought  me  my  weapon,  saying  that  it  had  been 
found  upon  the  stairs.  This  being  a  falsehood,  I  told 
him  so  flatly,  but  added  that  I  forgave  him,  since  he 
had  the  conscience  to  return  it.  I  rode  away,  leaving 
confusion  behind  me,  for  which  I  rejoiced,  for  I  looked 
upon  these  places  as  but  centers  where  the  Tory  poison 
crept  into  our  ranks,  the  devil  finding  mischief  ever 
for  idle  hands  to  do. 

From  this  spot,  my  journey  was  yet  more  rapid.  I 
rode  down  by  the  Hudson,  in  the  midst  of  that  wild  and 
beautiful  country  now  blossoming  with  all  the  sweetness 
and  the  beauty  of  the  early  summer ;  the  wild  grandeur 


246  A    YANKEE    VOLUNTEER. 

of  the  Highlands  contrasting  with  the  spreading  loveli 
ness  of  the  lowlands,  as  the  prospect  opened  toward  the 
Tappan  Zee.  Yet  here  was  like  to  be  the  seat  of  war, 
and  already  our  troops  were  fortifying  its  exposed  points, 
and  all  things  were  to  be  made  in  readiness  for  the  evifr 
hour  when  the  enemy  would  endeavor  to  force  the  war 
ships  into  these  lovely  waters.  I  paused  only  for  much- 
needed  rest,  and  lingered  not  even  to  inspect  our  posts, 
for  I  was  eager  to  be  at  the  center  of  the  struggle. 

It  was  in  the  twilight  of  a  soft  summer  evening  that 
I  approached  New  York.  I  rode  down  from  Kings- 
bridge  to  the  Bloomingdale  road,  and  so  entered  the 
city,  my  appearance  attracting  but  little  notice,  as  the 
streets  were  full  of  soldiers  and  the  inhabitants  all  alert 
at  the  preparations  to  resist  the  attacks  of  the  British. 
From  the  windows  of  the  houses  many  fair  faces  looked 
down  upon  the  groups  in  the  street,  where  were  gathered 
officers  in  blue  and  buff,  and  more  soberly  arrayed 
citizens  talking  together  beneath  the  green  foliage  of 
the  trees  that  lined  either  side  of  the  road.  On  every 
hand  were  signs  of  intrenchment ;  streets  were  barri 
caded  with  mahogany  logs,  taken  from  the  West  India 
cargoes ;  at  Saint  Paul's  Church,  Broadway  was  barri 
caded,  and  as  I  rode,  I  caught  glimpses  of  such  ob 
structions  upon  other  streets.  Once  or  twice  I  saw  a 
familiar  face,  but  for  the  most  part  only  strangers,  and 
felt  the  more  lonely  in  the  crowded  thoroughfare.  I  went 
on  therefore,  as  rapidly  as  I  could,  down  Broadway  to 
Broad  Street,  where  I  stopped  at  Fraunces'  Tavern  near 
Whitehall  Slip,  and  left  my  horse,  going  on  foot  to  re 
port  to  General  Putnam,  where  he  was  quartered  at  the 
Kennedy  house  on  Broadway.  Here  I  found  a  com 
pany  of  officers  of  Massachusetts  Bay  and  Connecticut, 
and  passed  the  evening  pleasantly  amidst  old  acquaint- 


I  JOURNEY  SOUTHWARD.  247 

ance,  and  was  later  assigned  my  own  duties  for  the 
ensuing  weeks.  That  night,  too,  I  learned  much  of 
the  eager  anticipation  of  the  enemy's  arrival,  and  of 
the  watchfulness  that  was  required,  since  New  York  was 
full  of  Tories,  and  both  Staten  Island  and  Long  Island 
swarmed  with  them.  Governor  Tryon,  still  on  the 
Duchess,  kept  up  a  constant  correspondence  with  these 
malcontents,  and  would  doubtless  stir  them  up  to  some 
deed  that  would  work  our  undoing,  if  possible.  The 
patriots  had  hanged  Tryon  in  effigy ;  but  this  was,  after 
all,  but  little  hurt  to  the  stout  royalist,  nor  did  the  king's 
cause  suffer  by  it.  Verily,  we  were  beset  both  by  open 
foes  and  secret  enemies,  and  might  well  find  the  knife 
at  our  own  bosoms. 


CHAFFER   XXXI. 

DOROTHY    WAYNE. 

I  FOUND  the  town  much  changed  since  I  had  seen  it 
last.  Many  of  the  Tories  had  fled  at  the  approach  of  our 
army,  and  vacant  houses  were  numerous  in  the  better 
quarters.  Social  intercourse  was  therefore  restricted  to 
the  wives  and  daughters  of  the  officers  and  of  Whigs,  who 
clustered  about  Mrs.  Washington  at  the  Richmond  Hill 
house,  where  his  Excellency  had  established  his  head 
quarters.  Even  this  little  group  felt  the  depression  of 
sharp  military  rule ;  the  town  was  governed  like  a  camp, 
and  no  one  might  pass  a  sentry  without  the  countersign. 
They  lived,  too,  in  fearful  anticipation,  none  being  so 
blind  as  not  to  see  our  weakness  and  the  enemy's 
gathering  strength.  Yet  these  women  were  brave  spirits, 
and  bore  the  anxiety  and  discouragement  with  a  cheerful 
demeanor.  It  was  at  Richmond  Hill  that  I  first  met 
Miss  Dorothy  Wayne,  and  being  much  together  that 
evening,  we  fell  to  talking  of  our  families,  and  I  found 
that  she  was  my  kinswoman  upon  my  mother's  side.  So 
it  was  that  a  firm  friendship  was  established  between  us, 
and  from  that  time  her  kindness  came  into  my  life  ;  she 
was,  of  all  women,  the  most  gentle  and  tender  that  I  have 
ever  known.  She  was  an  orphan,  living  with  her  grand 
parents  in  New  York,  but  she  was  not  like  them,  nor  was 
she  like  any  other  woman  I  have  seen.  Her  mother  had 
been  a  Quaker,  and  this  sect  was  yet  looked  upon  some 
what  askance  in  New  England,  where,  to  our  shame,  we 


DOROTHY  WAYNE.  249 

used  to  persecute  them.  It  was,  perhaps,  the  Quaker 
training  that  made  her  so  different  from  the  rest,  though 
she  was  herself  no  Quaker,  but  of  the  Church  of  England. 
Though  not  beautiful,  she  was  fair  to  look  upon,  tall  and 
slender,  with  a  pale  face  and  soft  brown  hair  and  eyes  of 
that  clear  brown  in  which  you  see  the  shadows  and  the 
sunshine.  When  I  first  saw  her,  in  her  soft  white  gown 
with  the  white  kerchief  folded  on  her  bosom  and  a  white 
rose  in  her  powdered  hair,  so  different  frpm  the  gay 
brocades  and  jewelled  necks  about  her,  I  was  reminded 
of  a  tall  white  lily,  and  it  is  thus  that  I  think  of  her 
ever.  We  became  fast  friends,  and  I  was  bidden  often 
to  her  grandfather's  house.  He  was  at  heart,  I  fancy, 
more  a  Tory  than  a  Whig,  but  desired  to  live  at  peace 
with  all  men,  being  an  old  man,  past  eighty-five,  and 
having  no  sons  to  take  part  in  the  conflict.  He  and  his 
old  wife  were  much  respected,  nor  did  I  ever  hear  ill 
of  them  from  either  side,  and  their  hospitality  was  both 
cheerful  and  unfailing.  In  this  house  I  became  as  one 
of  the  family,  and  found  much  comfort  in  their  friend 
ship  ;  by  mutual  consent,  we  spoke  not  of  politics,  and 
each  respected  the  other's  convictions.  Dorothy  was  a 
patriot,  quick  to  champion  her  country's  cause ;  and  the 
old  people  gainsaid  her  in  nothing,  but  only  smiled  and 
listened.  This  quiet  household  was  my  chief  refuge,  for 
without  there  was  plenty  of  stir  and  little  rest  for  any 
officer  or  soldier. 

The  work  of  fortifying  went  steadily  forward,  though 
we  all  knew  that  to  hold  the  city  was  but  a  forlorn  hope. 
Our  force  was  scattered  over  New  York,  Staten  Island, 
and  Long  fsland,  and  in  the  Jerseys,  and  altogether  com 
prised  scarce  ten  thousand  effective  men.  Some  of  these 
were  near  the  end  of  their  terms  of  enlistment  and  eager 
to  be  back  in  the  fields,  while  the  new  recruits  were  with- 


25O  A    YANKEE    VOLUNTEER. 

out  arms,  neither  did  we  know  where  to  find  them  either 
weapons  or  ammunition.  Yet  all  that  might  be  done 
was  done,  and  General  Washington  labored  with  untiring 
zeal ;  we  who  saw  him  thus,  facing  discouragement  and 
peril,  grew  to  love  and  honor  him  the  more  for  his  high 
courage  and  unselfish  patriotism.  He  took  a  firmer 
hold  upon  his  soldiers'  hearts  each  day  and  hour  of  that 
long  struggle,  and  none  failed  to  reverence  him  save 
those  mean  natures  that  were  envious  of  a  greatness  far 
above  their  reach. 

Great  was  the  stir,  in  those  days,  in  the  town  ;  while 
without,  at  Lispenard's  and  Jones'  hills,  forts  were  being 
constructed.  Batteries  had  been  placed  on  both  sides 
of  the  East  River  and  at  Catherine  Street ;  another  was 
in  a  cellar,  at  the  foot  of  Wall  Street,  on  Coenties  Slip. 
Along  the  New  Jersey  and  Long  Island  coasts  a  little 
fleet  of  schooners,  sloops,  row-galleys,  and  whaleboats, 
under  Benjamin  Tupper,  kept  up  a  continual  watch,  not 
only  for  open,  but  for  secret  foes.  It  was  said  that  the 
Tories  were  concealed  in  woods  and  swamps,  awaiting 
the  landing  of  the  British  troops,  and  many,  we  knew, 
lived  openly  at  Staten  Island.  The  correspondence 
between  these  plotters  and  Governor  Tryon  went  on 
despite  the  sharp  orders  that  no  one  should  hold  com 
munication  with  the  enemy's  ships.  The  Committee 
of  Conspiracy  had  assembled  in  the  middle  of  May  and 
was  still  sitting,  but  the  pestilent  rascals  evaded  even 
their  vigilance;  while  those  of  the  better  sort  defied 
them. 

The  streets,  as  I  have  said,  were  full  of  our  soldiers, 
but  they  were  for  the  most  part  simple  rustics  and  had 
none  of  the  vices  of  the  regulars,  though  a  great  jealousy 
springing  up  between  the  regiments  made  much  ill  feel 
ing.  The  poorly  clad  were  scorned  by  those  in  better  garb, 


DOROTHY   WAYNE.  25  I 

causing  heart-burnings  and  malice,  for  men  are,  after  all, 
but  grown-up  children  and  unhappily  envy  each  other 
all  too  easily.  His  Excellency's  guards  wore  blue  coats 
with  buff  facings  and  red  waistcoats,  their  body-belts 
being  white  and  their  breeches  of  buckskin  ;  their  black 
felt  hats  were  bound  with  white,  and  they  were  furnished 
with  bayonets,  that  were  still  rare  amongst  us.  This 
was  a  creditable  showing  for  those  days.  Smallwood's 
Maryland  regiments,  in  scarlet  and  buff  uniforms,  out 
shone  most  of  their  comrades,  and  were  called,  with  satire 
and  some  bitterness,  the  macaronis.  Brave  fellows  they 
were,  and  destined  to  show  us  that  the  dandy  can  fight 
as  well  as  the  homespun  warrior.  There,  too,  were  seen 
the  hunting-shirts  worn  by  the  riflemen,  who  became 
such  a  terror  to  the  redcoats  that  his  Excellency  called 
for  more  men  in  this  garb  to  affright  the  enemy.  There 
was  a  wonderful  variety  in  colors.  The  Light  Dragoons 
had  blue  coats  faced  with  red,  and  brown  coats  faced 
with  green,  while  Delaware  wore  blue  with  red  facings. 
The  New  Jersey  men  had  short  red  coats  and  striped 
breeches,  blue  coats  and  old  leather  breeches,  light  blue 
stockings  and  shoes  with  brass  buckles,  their  hats  being 
of  wool  and  bound  with  yellow.  Pennsylvania,  casting 
New  Jersey  in  the  shade,  came  forth  like  a  faded  rain 
bow  ;  brown  coats  faced  with  buff,  blue  with  red,  and 
again  brown  with  white,  often  much  garnished  with  huge 
pewter  buttons;  their  breeches  were  of  buckskin,  and 
they  wore  black  cocked  hats.  Here  was  a  strange 
company  enough  ;  but  there  was  yet  another  uniform, 
the  faded  red  coats  worn  in  the  old  French  wars ; 
many  a  brave  heart  beating  under  a  patched  cover  and 
wearing  the  king's  livery  to  fight  the  king.  Strange  as 
it  may  seem,  at  this  stern  season,  when  the  liberties  of 
our  country  were  at  stake,  men  quarrelled  over  such 


252  A    YANKEE    VOLUNTEER. 

differences  in  dress.  Many  an  honest  heart  burned 
with  anger  because  a  homespun  coat  was  the  object  of 
scorn  to  one  in  better  apparel ;  many  were  ready  to 
wrangle  over  a  threadbare  sleeve  while  the  enemy's 
ships  were  bearing  down  from  Halifax. 

There  was  another  cause  of  bitterness,  and  this  was  of 
a  deeper  and  more  delicate  nature.  In  the  eyes  of 
some  good  people,  the  Church  of  England  was  the 
church  of  the  king.  The  Presbyterians  had  a  feud 
against  it,  and  the  fires  of  jealousy  and  suspicion,  in 
those  days,  lacked  not  fuel  to  feed  upon.  The  end  of 
it  was  a  strange  scene  upon  one  Sabbath  at  Trinity 
Church.  The  rector,  Dr.  Auchmuty,  was  ill  at  New 
Brunswick,  and  in  his  place  was  the  Reverend  Charles 
Inglis,  who  believed  it  contrary  to  his  duty  to  leave  out 
the  prayer  for  the  king.  Now,  this  prayer  did  greatly 
offend  the  Whigs,  and  one  Sunday  morning  a  company 
of  a  hundred  and  fifty  men  armed  with  bayonets  marched 
into  the  church  playing  upon  drum  and  fife.  Straight 
way  women  shrieked  and  fainted,  looking  for  no  less 
than  the  death  of  Mr.  Inglis;  but  he,  being  a  brave  man, 
went  on  quietly  with  the  service,  and  when  the  appointed 
time  came,  kneeled  down  and  said  the  prayer  for  his 
Majesty  in  a  clear  voice.  There  was  loud  and  angry 
talking,  and  many  threats  from  the  people,  but  a  brave 
man  has  ever  a  strange  hold  upon  the  hearts  of  his 
fellows,  and  the  priest  was  not  harmed.  But  the  victory 
was  not  permanent ;  alarmed  at  the  demonstration,  the 
vestrymen  took  counsel,  and  in  the  end  the  doors  of  the 
English  churches  were  closed  until  Mr.  Howe  came. 
Strange,  too,  since  his  Excellency  was  of  that  faith,  but 
the  Presbyterians  were  triumphant.  Thus  war  went  even 
to  the  altar,  and  there  were  many  sad  scenes  when  fami 
lies  were  estranged  and  the  nearest  and  dearest  parted. 


DOROTHY   WAYNE.  253 

In  New  York,  as  at  Cambridge,  Ephraim  Minot  at 
tached  himself  to  my  person,  and  hardly  a  day  passed 
without  some  service  from  him.  He  still  wore  the  old 
green  coat,  that  miraculously  hung  together,  taking  some 
pride  in  this  strange  apparel,  and  always  eVad ing  my  offers 
of  better  garments,  until  I  let  him  have  his  way,  feeling 
that  I  should  scarcely  know  him  in  other  raiment.  It 
was  from  him  that  I  learned  of  a  matter  which  came  near 
to  working  a  great  mischief  and  disaster  to  our  cause. 

One  evening  in  June  I  sat  in  my  room  at  Fraunces1 
Tavern,  resting  for  a  brief  space  after  a  hard  day  of 
active  service  inspecting  and  watching  the  works  at 
Lispenard's  -Hill.  It  was  quite  still  so  that  I  heard  the 
voices  of  men  in  the  street  below.  I  remember  my 
displeasure  when  Ephraim  came  to  the  door ;  I  was  in 
no  mood  to  listen  to  him,  but  his  manner  arrested  my 
attention.  He  looked  as  unmoved  as  ever,  but  he  was 
more  quick  and  earnest  in  speech  than  usual. 

"You  are  not  in  your  uniform,  captain,"  he  remarked, 
glancing  at  my  clothes ;  "  so  far,  so  good.  Put  on  your 
hat  then,  sir,  and  come  with  me.  I  have  something 
that  I  would  show  you." 

I  had  no  wish  to  go,  and  told  him  so,  somewhat 
sharply ;  but  he  bore  it  with  much  patience,  and  smiled 
a  little. 

"  You  must  come,  sir,"  he  persisted  quietly,  "  and  as 
quickly  as  may  be,  for  we  have  some  way  to  go." 

"  I  have  no  love  for  mysteries,  Minot,"  I  said  irri 
tably;  "I  must  even  know  my  errand,  before  I  go 
upon  it." 

"  Then  it  may  be  that  you  will  never  go,"  he  an 
swered  dryly,  "for  I  can  scarcely  tell  you  what  it  is 
myself.  But  this  I  know,  that  if  you  love  the  cause,  and 
I  be  not  mistaken,  you  have  no  time  to  lose." 


254  A    YANKEE    VOLUNTEER. 

Impressed  more  by  his  manner  than  his  words,  I 
roused  myself,  and  without  more  parley  followed  him 
down  the  stairs  and  from  the  house.  He  led  me  by  the 
quiet  streets  and  lanes,  to  avoid  the  company  that 
would  stop  me*  on  the  thoroughfares,  and  we  made 
our  way  rapidly  toward  the  suburbs  of  the  town. 
Presently  I  found  that  he  was  guiding  me  in  the  di 
rection  of  Lispenard's  Meadows,  yet  I  asked  no  ques 
tions,  being  minded  to  let  him  have  his  way.  The  still 
June  evening  had  a  beauty  of  its  own ;  the  sky  was 
covered  with  light  clouds,  and  the  beauty  of  the  young 
summer  was  about  us.  The  chestnut-trees  in  Bayard's 
woods  were  tasselled  with  bloom,  and  from  their  midst 
came  the  sweet  shrill  note  of  a  catbird.  We  had  passed 
Richmond  Hill  and  seen  the  lights  from  the  house, 
shining  through  the  trees  that  clustered  about  it ;  thence 
our  walk  was  in  a  southeasterly  direction.  Presently 
we  drew  near  to  some  public  house,  and  I  asked  Minot 
what  place  it  was,  with  some  impatience,  for  I  saw  that 
he  was  turning  his  steps  toward  it. 

"Do  you  not  know  it,  sir?"  he  asked;  "that  is 
Corbie's  Tavern." 

"  I  know  it  not,"  I  replied  shortly,  "  neither  do  I 
wish  to  know  it.  What  fool's  errand  is  this?  I  have  no 
mind  to  squander  time  at  every  common  public-house 
about  New  York,  nor  is  it  a  profitable  place  for  you." 

"  Of  that  I  am  not  sure,"  he  replied,  pausing  in  the 
road  and  thrusting  his  hands  into  his  pockets ;  "  we 
shall  know  more  of  that  later." 

"  Pshaw  !  "  I  exclaimed  testily,  "  do  you  think  I  came 
thus  far,  Minot,  to  spend  my  evening  here  ?  I  came  at 
your  request,  judging  that  the  errand  must  be  of  some 
importance ;  but  I  have  neither  time  nor  inclination 
to  trifle." 


DOROTHY  WAYNE.  255 

Ephraim  was  unmoved ;  he  stood  fairly  planted  in  my 
path,  and  his  face  betrayed  no  sign  of  emotion. 

"  Have  patience  a  little  longer,  captain,"  he  said  in 
his  drawling  voice  ;  "  we  are  here  now,  and  you  might  as 
well  see  it  through." 

"  Go  on,  then,"  I  said  sharply,  somewhat  mollified  by 
the  truth  of  his  argument ;  and  we  walked  on  a  little  way 
in  silence. 

I  began  now  to  observe  the  tavern,  and  saw  the  bright 
ness  of  the  illumination,  and  the  black  forms  of  men 
moving  about  within ;  the  door  was  open,  and  the  light 
shone  in  a  broad  space  on  the  ground  without,  where 
were  some  loungers.  As  we  approached,  I  heard  plainly 
the  sound  of  voices  and  the  jingle  of  glasses,  and  my 
repugnance  increased,  even  as  my  curiosity  awoke.  A 
few  yards  from  the  door,  Ephraim  stopped  me  with  a 
sign. 

"  Say  nothing,  captain,"  he  whispered,  suddenly  los 
ing  his  indifference;  "use  your  ears  and  not  your 
tongue." 

"  Nay,"  I  replied,  half  laughing,  "  I  must  even  use 
both  at  my  discretion ;  but  I  believe  that  you  may  trust 
me." 

Ephraim  nodded,  and  once  more  assuming  the  lead, 
walked  slowly  to  the  door,  and  there  paused  with  two 
others ;  and  I,  coming  up  behind,  looked  over  their 
shoulders  into  the  room. 


CHAPTER   XXXII. 
CORBIE'S  TAVERN. 

STANDING  thus  sheltered  by  Ephraim  and  the  others,  I 
had  opportunity  to  examine  the  interior  at  my  leisure. 
It  was  a  square  room,  low-ceiled,  with  dingy  walls ;  above 
the  great  fireplace  the  smoke  of  many  winters  had  left 
a  yellow  stain.  On  the  bar  stood  a  cheerful  array  of 
glasses  and  no  lack  of  liquors,  and  the  place  was  well 
filled  with  a  motley  throng  of  visitors.  Many  of  these 
were  soldiers,  and  two  wore  the  blue  and  buff  coats  and 
red  waistcoats  of  General  Washington's  body-guards. 
At  first  I  observed  nothing  but  the  common  air  of  a 
public  house,  and  was  the  more  annoyed  at  Ephraim's 
persistence.  Then  I  noticed  that  there  was  some  stir  at 
the  farther  end  of  the  room,  and  a  short  thick  man  in  a 
white  coat  stood  up  and  began  to  address  the  others. 
At  the  beginning  there  was  no  great  significance  to 
his  speech,  and  I  could  make  neither  head  nor  tail  of 
it.  Soon,  however,  my  ear  caught  words  that  roused  my 
curiosity,  and  at  the  same  moment  Ephraim  moved 
quietly  into  the  room,  and  I  followed.  We  took  our 
places  by  the  door,  and  for  a  while  no  man  observed  us, 
though  afterwards  they  were  keen  enough  in  their  notice 
of  me.  At  this  time  a  light- colored  mulatto,  wearing 
blue  clothes,  came  suddenly  in,  by  the  door  opposite, 
and  talked  apart  with  the  rrym  in  the  white  coat.  A 
paper  passed  betwixt  them,  and  after  reading  it  he  of 


CORBIE'S   TAVERN. 

the  white  coat  turned  with  much  effrontery  to  his  audi 
ence,  signing  to  them  to  be  still. 

"  It  is  even  as  I  told  you,  my  friends,"  he  said  in  a  deep 
voice ;  "  and  we  are  all  friends  here  to-night,  I  believe." 

"  Ay,  all  friends,"  responded  several  voices,  at  once. 

At  this,  the  first  speaker  glanced  about  him  keenly,  as 
if  he  did  not  wholly  trust  the  assurance,  but  after  an 
instant  he  went  on  in  a  pompous  voice. 

"  It  is  even  better  than  I  believed  it,"  he  said ;  "  he 
who  joins  this  regiment  —  to  fight  for  the  true  cause  — 
will  have,  so  says  one  in  authority,  a  bounty  of  five 
guineas  —  five  good  guineas — two  hundred  acres  of 
land  for  himself,  one  hundred  for  his  wife  —  and  fifty  —  " 
he  paused  to  give  weight  to  his  words,  "  fifty,  my  friends, 
for  each  child  !  " 

At  this,  I  pricked  up  my  ears.  We,  who  were  ever 
empty  in  purse,  were  not  offering  such  inducements  to 
enlist ;  therefore  the  fellow  was  either  tipsy  or  a  liar,  — 
the  latter  he  looked,  but  not  the  former.  He  paused, 
and  his  auditors  responded  with  much  applause.  Only 
one  fellow,  a  dark  man  wearing  the  buff  and  blue, 
seemed  disposed  to  question  him. 

"  Come,  come,  Forbes,"  he  said  tauntingly ;  "  that 
offer  is  upon  the  lips,  we  shall  never  see  the  color  of 
your  money  !  " 

"  Now,  as  truly  as  my  name  is  Gilbert  Forbes,"  replied 
he  of  the  white  coat,  with  an  oath,  "  it  is  a  fair  offer  and 
a  straight  one ;  the  five  guineas  be  in  readiness,  and 
there  is  more  money  behind.  We  are  not  ragged 
beggars,  but  honest  men." 

"  Come,  then,  honest  man,"  replied  the  guardsman, 
mockingly,  "  give  us  some  assurance  of  the  good  of  this 
great  enterprise." 

"  It  is  the  best  —  the  fairest  —  the  —  "  began  Forbes, 


258  A    YANKEE    VOLUNTEER. 

but  stopped  suddenly,  for  the  landlord,  Corbie,  plucked 
his  sleeve  and  pointed  at  me. 

He  was  a  sharp-eyed  restless  knave,  and  had  spied 
me  by  the  door ;  with  the  keen  observation  of  the  inn 
keeper,  he  saw  at  once  the  difference  between  my 
appearance  and  that  of  his  other  guests.  At  his  ges 
ture  twenty  eyes  were  turned  suddenly  upon  me,  and 
I  found  myself  an  object  of  unpleasant  prominence, 
and  was  conscious  that  my  face  was  scarlet.  I  doubt 
not  that  my  look  and  bearing  were  those  of  a  soldier, 
though  my  dress  was  plain  and  sober  and  I  wore  no 
weapon.  However  quiet  my  appearance  and  behavior, 
it  was  yet  patent  that  I  carried  consternation  into  the 
assembly ;  more  than  one  lowering  glance  was  cast  in 
my  direction,  while  Corbie  and  Forbes  conversed 
apart,  also  looking  at  me.  It  was  at  this  juncture  that 
Ephraim  made  an  extraordinary  move,  which  came 
near  being  his  undoing,  since  I  was  so  violently  an 
gered  thereat  that  it  was  on  my  tongue  to  call  him 
a  liar  and  a  knave,  a  sudden  intuition  alone  staying 
my  purpose.  Leaving  his  place  by  my  side,  he  walked 
leisurely  to  the  center  of  the  room,  and  there  sat  down 
on  the  edge  of  a  table  ;  taking  up  a  bottle  of  some 
liquor,  he  filled  a  glass  slowly,  while  he  addressed  him 
self  to  the  man  in  the  white  coat. 

"  Friend  Forbes,"  he  said  in  his  usual  drawling  tone, 
"I  didn't  forget  that  promise  I  made  you.  I  brought 
the  gentleman  to-night.  He  is  minded  to  be  of  our 
party,  but  would  fain  hear  the  matter  and  consider  it, 
before  he  speaks  himself.  But  he  is  entirely  of  our  way 
of  thinking,  gentlemen,"  he  added  calmly,  looking 
straight  at  me  and  raising  his  glass.  "  Here  's  a  health, 
Mr.  Forbes  and  other  parties  unknown  :  long  life,  a  long 
reign  and  success,  to  King  George  !  " 


COKBIPS   TAVERN.  259 

I  uttered  an  exclamation,  but  happily  it  was  lost  in 
the  stir  and  alarm  that  followed  Ephraim's  bold  words. 
Men  sprang  from  their  chairs,  and  Corbie  shrank  back 
with  a  frightened  face  ;  only  the  man  Forbes  seemed  un 
moved,  staring  defiantly  about  him.  As  for  Minot,  he 
coolly  drained  his  glass  and  remained  seated  upon 
the  table,  the  picture  of  unconcern.  After  the  first 
shock  of  surprise,  I  commanded  myself,  resolving  to 
watch  these  strange  proceedings;  but  I  was  not  to 
escape  so  easily.  Corbie,  the  landlord,  kept  whispering 
in  the  ear  of  the  man  in  the  white  coat,  until  the  latter 
put  him  aside  with  great  impatience. 

"  Pshaw,  man  !  "  he  said  roughly,  "  you  might  as 
well  hang  for  a  sheep  as  a  lamb.  We  are  all  friends 
here  to-night.  Perhaps,"  he  added  with  sudden  suavity, 
fixing  his  eyes  on  me,  "  the  gentleman  yonder  will 
step  forward  here  and  address  the  company  in  behalf 
of  the  true  cause." 

At  this,  I  became  once  more  the  center  of  observa 
tion,  but  happily  was  no  longer  wholly  unprepared.  I 
stirred  not  from  my  place,  although  those  nearest  began 
to  move  aside  to  give  me  room  to  pass  to  the  end  of 
the  apartment. 

"  I  thank  you,"  I  said,  with  as  cool  a  voice  as  I  could 
command,  "  but  I  am  here  to-night  to  profit  by  instruc 
tion  rather  than  to  instruct.  Yet  I  would  fain  ask  a 
few  questions,  by  your  leave." 

There  were  cries  of  "  Hear,  hear !  "  and  I  saw  a  cer 
tain  relief  in  the  bold  face  of  the  ringleader,  yet  he  was 
not  wholly  satisfied. 

"  Any  question  that  I  am  at  liberty  to  answer,  sir," 
he  said,  with  an  air  of  servility  that  suited  ill  his  rugged 
exterior.  "I  am  a  man  under  authority,  and  not  able 
to  speak  with  all  the  freedom  that  I  would." 


2(50  A    YANKEE    VOLUNTEER. 

"  Oh,  you  know  enough,  Gilbert !  "  came  in  a  taunting 
voice  from  him  of  the  blue  and  buff. 

"  This  undertaking  being  for  his  Majesty,"  I  said 
deliberately,  and  feigned  not  to  notice  the  uneasy  stir 
in  the  room,  "  must  be  under  the  direction,  as  I  take  it, 
of  Governor  Tryon.  It  seems  to  me,  in  this  case,  we 
should  have  some  written  evidence  of  our  engagement, 
especially  as  there  are  many  here,  and  I  mistake  not, 
who  jeopardize  their  necks  to  serve  the  king." 

I  paused  an  instant  to  observe  the  growing  conster 
nation  in  the  faces  about  me ;  the  covert  threat  of  the 
halter  sat  not  well  upon  their  stomachs,  and  Corbie's 
eyes  grew  round  with  terror. 

"What,  then,  is  our  engagement?"  I  continued  with 
more  boldness ;  "  whence  come  our  arms  ?  Certain  it  is 
that  we  can  steal  none  from  the  rebels,  for  there  are 
none  to  spare  ;  and,  lastly,  where  is  the  money?  " 

I  had  thrown  a  fair  light  on  the  matter,  and  saw  that, 
from  being  suspected,  I  was  rapidly  gaining  in  their 
esteem,  since  many  were  of  my  mind.  But  what  pleased 
me  the  most  was  that  Forbes  fell  easily  into  my  trap. 
He  had  enough  of  low  cunning,  but  he  saw  only  in  my 
speech  the  anxiety  of  a  man  who  desired  to  be  sure 
of  his  price,  and  this  was  on  a  level  with  his  own 
ambitions. 

"  We  can  satisfy  you,  sir,  amply  satisfy  you,"  he  re 
plied,  rubbing  his  hands  together  with  an  air  of  high 
content.  But  I  observed  the  innkeeper  slipping  about 
and  looking  furtively  from  the  windows;  doubtless  he 
had  more  to  lose.  Forbes  moved  to  a  table  in  the 
center  of  the  room  to  be  better  heard,  and  then  ad 
dressed  us. 

"  In  the  first  place,  gentlemen,  our  cause  is  righteous," 
he  said,  raising  his  eyes  to  the  ceiling  with  a  sancti- 


CORBIE'S   TAVERN.  26 1 

monious  manner ;  "  it  is  the  service  of  his  Majesty,  that 
should  be  a  sufficient  reward  for  an  honest  man  — 

"  But  it  is  n't,  honest  Gilbert,"  interrupted  the 
guardsman. 

Forbes  only  gave  him  a  hard  glance,  and  went  on 
unmoved.  "  I  have  already,"  he  said,  "  told  you  of  the 
liberal  terms,  five  guineas'  bounty  and  the  grant  of 
land  —  " 

"  Which  must  be  first  seized  from  its  present  owners," 
put  in  the  talkative  blue  coat. 

"  A  rebel  can  own  nothing,"  replied  Forbes,  sternly. 
"  Our  service,  too,  will  be  but  an  easy  matter.  We  have 
only  to  co-operate  with  the  king's  troops,  and  they  will 
presently  arrive  in  great  force.  These  Yankees  cannot 
stand  an  hour  against  his  Majesty's  guns,  and  we  will 
come  in  to  enjoy  the  fruits  of  an  easy  victory.  As  for 
the  money,  I  have  some  here  this  very  night,  and  every 
man  who  enlists  and  takes  the  oath  of  secrecy  will  re 
ceive  money  to  buy  arms  or  aught  else  he  needs.  We 
are  no  cornfield  beggars,  like  this  ragged  mob  in  the 
city.  The  king  knows  how  to  reward  his  followers." 

"  The  king  shall  come  to  his  own  again ! "  sang 
Ephraim,  who  still  sat  upon  the  table  and  had  continued 
to  drink  at  intervals. 

His  appearance  was  now  so  entirely  that  of  a  simple 
tipsy  loafer  that  I  began  to  doubt  his  consciousness  of 
all  that  was  passing.  His  hat  was  more  over  one  ear 
than  ever,  and  he  was  smiling  in  a  silly  vacant  fashion 
into  the  bottle  that  he  held  in  his  hand.  Meanwhile 
Forbes  had  called  for  a  Bible,  and  laying  it  upon  the 
table  in  the  poor  company  of  empty  glasses,  he  drew 
out  a  paper  and  was  ready  to  write  down  the  names  of 
such  as  would  enlist  upon  the  spot.  The  promise  of 
ready  money  drew  them,  as  sugar  draws  summer  flies,  and 


262  A    YANKEE    VOLUNTEER. 

he  had  soon  a  fair  company  about  him,  though  some 
were  yet  eager  to  know  the  full  amount  of  service  that 
would  be  required,  and  he  grew  more  impatient  at  their 
questions. 

"What  will  you  have?"  he  cried  harshly;  "do  you 
want  the  king's  money  for  sitting  in  the  chimney-corner? 
What  is  it  to  spike  a  few  guns  and  to  run  these  rebels 
into  the  river?" 

"  Nay,  but,"  began  a  reluctant  one,  "  if  this  matter 
fails  some  of  us  may  be  hurt,  and  —  " 

"  Hurt ! "  shouted  Forbes,  exasperated,  and  striking 
his  fist  upon  the  table  with  a  force  that  made  the  glasses 
spin,  —  "  hurt !  W7hy,  damn  you,  they  would  never  find 
a  coward  like  you,  save  in  some  cellar  !  Here,  Corbie, 
swear  these  men  upon  the  book  or  they  will  be  as  eager 
to  betray  us  as  they  are  to  run  !  But  I  can  tell  you, 
gentlemen,  that  the  king  has  rope  enough  to  send  all  his 
rebels  to  hell." 

He  stood,  leaning  his  clenched  fists  upon  the  table 
and  lowering  at  his  auditors,  who  for  the  most  part 
shrank  a  little  at  the  naked  violence  of  his  speech, 
though  some  did  faintly  applaud  him.  At  this  juncture 
Ephraim,  slipping  off  the  table  where  he  had  sat,  staggered 
to  a  seat  upon  the  window-sill,  overturning  some  chairs 
in  his  path.  Here  he  sat,  still  holding  fondly  to  his 
bottle,  and  began  to  sing,  in  a  maudlin  voice,  a  royalist 
song  which  exalted  the  king  and  sent  his  Excellency  to 
perdition.  However,  this  credible  performance  gained 
little  attention,  since  Forbes  was  engaged  in  a  wrangle 
with  the  dark  guardsman,  who  was  something  loath  to 
sign  his  name  to  the  contract. 

"What  ails  you  to-night,  Thomas  Hickey?"  asked 
Forbes,  sharply ;  "  these  be  new  scruples  and  you  are 
no  new  hand  !  " 


CORBIE'S    TAVERN.  263 

At  this,  the  dark  face  of  the  traitor  flushed  more 
deeply  and  he  lowered  at  his  interrogator. 

"  Have  done  with  your  bullying  ways,  Gilbert ! "  he 
exclaimed  sullenly.  "  I  am  doing  enough  for  you  and 
your  infernal  schemes  to  hang  for  it ;  but  when  it  comes 
to  that,  we  will  hang  together." 

Forbes  laughed  unpleasantly,  and  pointed  his  ringer 
at  the  other's  dress. 

"  I  am  not  wearing  the  devil's  uniform,"  he  said 
tauntingly. 

"The devil  will  get  you,  nevertheless,"  Hickey  replied 
violently. 

"  Come,  come,  gentlemen,"  interrupted  Corbie,  plain 
tively  ;  "  your  quarrelling  is  only  an  injury  to  his  Maj 
esty's  cause ;  two  such  noble  men  should  be  fast  friends 
to  serve  the  king." 

"  The  king  will  come  to  his  own  again ! "  sang 
Ephraim's  tipsy  voice. 

Some  turned  quickly  at  this  interruption,  and  saw  the 
singer  wave  his  bottle  in  feeble  ecstasy,  and  then,  as 
unexpectedly,  he  lost  his  balance  and  rolled  out  the 
window,  his  feet  remaining  for  a  few  moments,  waving 
helplessly  over  the  sill  before  they  were  lost  in  the  dark 
ness.  This  incident,  provoking  laughter,  saved  them  a 
drunken  brawl,  and  for  a  while  there  was  a  general  re 
turn  of  good  fellowship. 

For  some  time  I  had  seen  the  increasing  peril  and 
embarrassment  of  my  situation,  and  had  looked  for  a 
way  of  escape.  This  came  to  me  as  Corbie  arid  Forbes 
began  to  call  the  men  up,  by  name,  to  swear  them  to 
secrecy.  In  the  stir,  as  they  fell  into  line,  I  evaded  the 
covert  watchfulness  of  those  near  me  and  slipped  out 
the  door.  Happily  there  was  no  one  without,  and  not 
forgetting  Ephraim  I  went  in  that  direction  to  see  if  he 


264  A    YANKEE    VOLUNTEER. 

was  still  lying  under  the  window.  But  there  was  no  one 
there,  and  I  hastened  my  steps,  fearing  that  they  might 
endeavor  to  recall  me  to  enforce  the  oath.  I  was  half 
dazed,  too,  with  the  startling  revelations  of  the  night,  and 
unable  to  understand  Ephraim  in  this  new  character, 
since  I  had  never  seen  him  save  as  sober  as  any  Puritan. 
However,  I  had  no  time  for  reflection,  but  set  my  face 
toward  Richmond  Hill  and  pushed  on  at  a  rapid  gait. 
I  had  scarcely  proceeded  a  hundred  yards  when  I  heard 
a  step  behind  me,  and  fearing  pursuit,  turned  sharply 
and  looked  back.  A  tall  man  was  following  closely  in 
my  tracks,  and  at  a  second  glance  I  recognized  him. 

"  Ah,"  I  exclaimed,  "  the  fall  has  sobered  you  enough 
to  let  you  walk  in  a  straight  line,  it  seems." 

"As  straight  as  usual,  captain,"  drawled  Ephraim,  in 
his  ordinary  tones,  "  and  more  straight  than  many  knaves." 

Then  I  knew  that  the  fellow  was  a  clever  actor,  and 
began  to  doubt  his  honesty,  although  I  reproached  my 
self  in  a  moment  for  it. 

"  How  long  have  you  been  going  to  yonder  den  of 
thieves?"  I  asked  him  sternly. 

"  A  couple  of  times,  I  take  it,"  he  replied  with  perfect 
unconcern.  "  That  big  man  in  the  white  coat  is  a  gun 
smith,  and  as  great  a  rogue  as  there  is  out  of  Satan's 
kingdom ;  the  nigger  in  the  blue  clothes  is  a  servant  of 
Governor  Tryon.  Thus  much  I  learned  before  I  took 
you  to  see  them  in  their  nest.  Do  you  regret  the  going, 
captain?  " 

"  Nay,"  I  said  sharply,  "  not  if  it  may  serve  my  coun 
try,  though  I  feel  unclean  from  the  contamination." 

"And  you  thought  me  drunk?"  Ephraim  laughed 
dryly.  "  Bless  your  heart,  sir,  they  used  to  say  that  it 
took  nigh  a  hogshead  to  turn  my  father's  brain,  and  I 
have  never  taken  the  measure  of  mine." 


CORBIE'S   TAVERN.  26$ 

"  I  should  judge  that  you  might  equal,  if  not  excel 
the  paternal  record,"  I  replied ;  "  at  least,  I  have  no 
wish  to  test  you." 

At  which,  he  laughed  again,  taking  pride,  as  I  have 
seen  others,  in  his  capacity  to  drink  more  than  other 
men  unhurt.  Meanwhile  we  had  walked  rapidly  on 
ward,  and  he  asked  me  now  if  I  intended  to  go  to  Rich 
mond  Hill,  and  I  replied  in  the  affirmative. 

"  Shall  you  need  me,  captain  ?  "  he  inquired,  enjoying 
keenly,  I  think,  his  new  importance. 

"  I  cannot  do  without  you,"  I  replied,  and  was  con 
scious  in  the  darkness  of  his  gratification. 

We  looked  back  more  than  once,  but  the  lights  still 
burned  cheerfully  in  the  tavern ;  there  was  no  sign  that 
we  were  suspected,  and  we  went  on  upon  our  errand 
with  more  hopeful  hearts. 


CHAPTER  XXXIII. 

CONSPIRACY   CONFOUNDED. 

I  HAD  no  thought,  when  Ephraim  led  me  out  that 
night,  —  nor  afterwards,  when  I  had  heard  the  treason 
able  talk  at  Corbie's  Tavern,  —  of  the  magnitude  of  the 
conspiracy.  It  seemed  to  me  but  the  plotting  of  low 
fellows  who  would  corrupt  the  common  soldiers,  and 
especially  his  Excellency's  guards.  As  for  Tryon,  I 
knew  not  whether  he  was  indeed  engaged  in  these  ne 
farious  schemes,  or  they  but  used  his  name  to  further 
their  own  interests.  That  which  seemed  to  me  most 
patent  and  most  dangerous  was  the  hatching  of  a  plot 
that  might  imperil  the  person  of  General  Washington. 
It  was  but  natural  that  the  enemy  should  desire  to  re 
move  one  who  stood  at  the  forefront  of  the  battle,  and 
these  low  rascals  were  the  very  tools  for  such  a  purpose. 
The  Richmond  Hill  house  stood  alone,  outside  the  town, 
its  isolation  offering  the  fairest  opportunity  to  the  trai 
tors  and  assassins.  Surrounded,  too,  by  trees,  it  seemed 
the  very  spot  to  tempt  a  villanous  design.  My  heart 
beat  high  when  I  approached  it  on  that  night ;  I  thought 
of  the  secret  danger  lurking  so  near  at  hand,  and  of  the 
great  loss  to  the  colonies  that  might  follow  a  blow 
struck  here. 

We  had  no  difficulty  in  obtaining  admission,  and  I 
was  almost  immediately  summoned  to  the  general's 
presence.  I  found  him  with  General  Greene  and  Gen 
eral  Putnam,  and  was  kindly  and  pleasantly  received. 


CONSPIRACY  CONFOUNDED.  267 

My  error,  or  my  fault,  at  Cambridge  had  long  since 
been  forgiven ;  his  Excellency  had  ever  an  amiable  and 
dignified  manner  to  his  officers,  nor  was  his  composure 
readily  ruffled,  even  in  moments  of  danger.  To  this  trio, 
then,  I  told  my  story,  and  presently  Ephraim  was  sum 
moned  to  corroborate  it  in  detail.  Both  Washington  and 
Putnam  doubtless  remembered  him  in  connection  with 
the  escape  of  Dick  Talbot,  and  they  listened  with  interest 
to  his  story,  told  in  his  own  fashion,  but  without  his  usual 
embellishments.  It  was  interesting  to  note  the  effect  of 
these  revelations  upon  the  three  men ;  both  Greene  and 
Putnam  were  excited  and  disturbed,  but  he  whom  it  most 
concerned  remained  unmoved.  His  personal  peril  had 
never  any  weight  with  him  ;  he  had  the  courage  of  a 
lion,  but  was  ever  zealous  for  the  safety  of  the  cause. 
He  showed  no  anxiety,  even  when  Ephraim  told  them 
that  conspiracy  was  hatching  in  low  places,  and  that  the 
conspirators  aimed  at  the  life  of  the  commander-in-chief. 
Minot  surprised  me  with  his  revelations,  and  it  was  at 
his  suggestion  that  other  witnesses  were  produced.  In 
a  few  days  we  discovered  that  the  plot  was  spread 
through  the  town  by  the  liquor-dealers,  who  could  easily 
corrupt  the  masses.  We  had  but  found  the  end  of  a 
tangled  skein,  and  I  was  much  amazed  at  the  spread  of 
the  mischief.  Involved  in  it  were  various  tavern-keepers ; 
one  was  the  landlord  of  an  inn  upon  the  corner  of 
Beaver  Street  and  Broadway,  "The  Highlander "  they 
called  the  place ;  another  was  under  the  sign  of  Robin 
Hood.  A  beer-house  on  Tryon  Row,  and  a  tavern  op 
posite  the  Oswego  Market,  sheltered  more  plotters,  while 
Gilbert  Forbes,  the  gunsmith,  was  the  general  agent. 
So  important  was  the  discovery  that  the  investigation 
was  confided  to  a  committee  of  the  Congress  of  New 
York  and  the  plot  was  traced  to  Governor  Tryon  and 


268  A    YANKEE    VOLUNTEER. 

the  mayor,  David  Matthews.  It  was  said  that  it  ex 
tended  up  the  Hudson,  and  that  the  Tories  were  every 
where  enlisted. 

Rumors  of  the  discovery  of  some  conspiracy  had 
spread  about  the  city,  and  excitement  flamed  up  on  all 
sides,  while  strange  reports  flew  from  mouth  to  mouth. 
Some  said  that  the  Tories  were  about  to  rise  in  great 
numbers,  destroy  the  magazine  and  heavy  guns,  and 
presently  massacre  all  our  field  officers  and  slay  General 
Washington.  Children  had  the  story  on  the  streets,  and 
old  wives  talked  of  it  upon  the  doorsteps.  No  man 
knew  the  truth,  or  any  portion  of  it,  yet  that  but  made 
the  falsehoods  thrive  the  better  and  confound  the 
soberest.  We  in  the  army,  who  knew  the  secret,  were 
impatient  for  action,  and  grumbled  much  at  the  slow 
movements  of  the  committee  of  investigation,  yet  at 
last  the  climax  came.  General  Washington  was  re 
quested  to  secure  the  person  of  the  mayor  and  his 
papers.  I  was  with  the  officer  who  carried  the  warrant 
to  General  Greene  from  his  Excellency.  Mayor  Mat 
thews  was  then  living  at  Flatbush,  at  no  great  distance 
from  General  Greene's  command,  and  in  the  midst  of  a 
nest  of  Tories,  since  Long  Island,  like  Staten,  was  full 
of  these  malcontents.  The  order  was  to  be  executed  at 
precisely  one  of  the  clock,  and  great  care  was  to  be  used 
in  securing  the  person  of  the  mayor  and  his  documents. 
With  great  precision  were  these  instructions  obeyed ;  I 
was  with  the  detachment  sent  by  General  Greene.  We 
surrounded  the  house  at  Flatbush,  and  with  no  difficulty 
effected  the  arrest,  Mr.  Matthews  hotly  protesting  his 
innocence  when  the  officer  in  command  read  the  warrant 
to  him.  But  we  were  entirely  disappointed  in  the  at 
tempt  to  secure  his  papers ;  diligently  did  we  search 
every  crack  and  crevice  of  the  mansion,  but  without 


CONSPIRACY  CONFOUNDED.  269 

result.  He  had  verily  builded  wisely,  if  he  was  so 
nefarious  a  plotter,  for  we  found  not  the  smallest  scrap 
of  writing  to  put  in  evidence.  The  heat  and  earnestness 
of  our  search  only  served  to  frighten  a  maidservant  into 
hysterics,  which  mortified  us  in  the  midst  of  our  zeal. 
So  at  last  we  rode  away  with  the  mayor,  but  with  no 
documents  in  our  pockets. 

As  we  went  through  the  woods  beyond  Flatbush,  we 
well  nigh  forgot  our  anger  and  disappointment.  About 
us  bloomed  in  masses  the  pale  laurel,  and  above  us  the 
birds  made  the  air  sweet  with  music.  I  dismounted  and 
burdened  my  saddlebow  with  a  great  mass  of  laurel  blos 
soms,  and  rode  on,  to  the  amusement  of  the  soldiers,  who 
yet  dimly  understood  and  sympathized  with  my  love  for 
these  simple  country  flowers.  Thus  it  was  that  we  car 
ried  the  mayor  to  the  committee  to  be  examined,  and 
from  thence  I  returned  to  New  York,  and  that  same 
evening,  feeling  my  flowers  out  of  place  in  a  tavern 
room,  took  the  laurel  to  Miss  Wayne. 

It  was  just  past  supper-time  when  I  stood  before  the 
hospitable  door  on  Hanover  Square,  and  was  immedi 
ately  admitted  by  a  white-headed  negro  slave.  He 
conducted  me  to  the  living-room,  and  Dorothy  came  to 
meet  me  with  her  finger  on  her  lip.  Her  grandmother 
was  asleep  over  her  knitting  in  a  great  chair  by  the  win 
dow,  and  the  young  girl  pointed  to  her  with  a  smile.  I 
gave  her  my  simple  flowers,  and  it  was  pleasant  to  see 
the  light  in  her  brown  eyes  as  she  looked  at  them ;  she 
too  loved  these  sweet  pink  blossoms,  and  held  them 
for  a  long  while  on  her  knee  while  we  sat  together  talk 
ing  in  low  tones,  that  we  might  not  wake  her  grand 
mother.  I  remember  that  on  that  night  I  recognized 
how  really  lovely  was  the  face  before  me.  I  had  never 
thought  her  beautiful,  nor  was  she,  and  her  repose  and 


2 70  A    YANKEE    VOLUNTEER. 

gentleness,  the  clear  paleness  of  her  oval  face  and  the 
softness  of  her  large  brown  eyes  made  me  continually 
contrast  her  with  the  image  of  Joyce,  whose  beauty  had 
so  much  color  and  animation.  Yet,  blind  as  I  was  to 
other  charms,  I  saw  the  grace  and  sweetness  of  the 
woman  before  me.  Her  gown,  which  was  that  night 
something  of  the  color  of  a  violet,  suited  her  complex 
ion  well,  and  the  white  kerchief  revealed  her  slender 
girlish  throat ;  her  hair  was  powdered,  but  she  wore 
none  of  the  great  puffs  and  wondrous  ringlets  of  the 
townswomen,  nor  was  there  any  ornament.  Her  figure, 
too,  was  fitly  set  in  the  great  room,  low-ceiled  and  with 
its  sanded  floor.  The  great  carved  mantelpiece  went 
nearly  to  the  ceiling,  and  over  the  fireplace  was  a  lion's 
head ;  below  this  were  set  the  blue  Dutch  tiles,  with 
windmills  on  them  and  high-decked  ships.  The  fur 
niture  was  of  mahogany,  and  had  come  over  with  the 
family  to  New  Amsterdam  ;  in  the  corner  stood  the 
grandam's  spinning-wheel,  which  was  yet  in  use,  for 
the  good  dame  had  never  yet  relinquished  the  ancient 
customs.  A  jasmine  vine  was  clinging  to  the  window- 
sill  where  I  sat  with  Miss  Wayne,  and  the  sweetness  of 
the  perfume  filled  the  air.  While  we  talked  together, 
I  told  her  many  stories  of  Salem  and  of  the  old  days 
by  the  sea;  yet  it  was  not  in  my  heart  to  speak  of 
Joyce,  even  to  her  sympathetic  ears,  and  so  the  talk 
of  the  past  had  still  a  hollowness  to  me,  though  she 
knew  it  not  and  told  me  of  her  own  childhood.  And 
from  this  I  began  to  understand  the  pathos  in  her  eyes ; 
she  had  been  old  enough  to  remember  the  death  of 
her  mother,  and  the  fearful  sense  of  loss  and  loneliness. 
It  seemed  that  she  had  been  from  that  time  the  charge 
of  her  grandparents,  and  had  never  had  a  playmate,  so 
she  had  grown  up  with  old  quaint  ways,  and  seemed  even 


CONSPIRACY  CONFOUNDED.  2? I 

now  apart  from  other  girls  of  her  age.  The  sympathy 
that  springs  up  quickly  between  two  people  who  both 
have  a  sense  of  loneliness,  arose  between  us,  and  we 
talked  on  until  the  grandam  woke  and  fell  asleep  again. 
It  interested  me  to  see  how  quickly  this  gentle  creature 
would  take  fire  for  her  country's  cause,  and  I  wondered 
a  little  why  women  will  make  such  a  cause  their  own 
and  quarrel  for  it  even  more  readily  than  a  man.  I 
earned  a  sharp  rebuke  by  speaking  with  anxiety  of  the 
weakness  of  our  army  and  of  the  strength  that  the  king 
was  likely  to  send  against  us.  She  mistook  my  meaning, 
and  thought  me  fearful  of  defeat. 

"  For  shame,  Mr.  Allen  ! "  she  said,  her  brown  eyes 
shining  ;  "  you  a  soldier  and  apprehensive  !  Our  cause 
is  a  righteous  one,  and  just,  and  surely  shall  it  be 
triumphant." 

This  reminded  me  so  much  of  Joyce  and  her  cham 
pionship  of  the  king's  rights  that  I  only  smiled  while 
Miss  Wayne  went  on  to  read  me  a  lecture  on  the  need 
of  steadfastness  of  heart,  and  then  was  covered  with 
confusion  when  I  assured  her  that  the  only  doubt  had 
been  in  her  own  mind.  She  asked  me  many  questions, 
too,  about  the  rumors  of  conspiracy,  but  these  I  cDuld 
not  answer,  for  the  time  was  not  come  for  speech.  Yet 
before  long  the  matter  was  common  talk  about  the  city. 

The  arrest  of  Mayor  Matthews  was  followed  close  by 
that  of  many  others,  and  great  was  the  dismay  that  over 
took  the  Tories,  many  of  the  conspirators  seeking  refuge 
in  the  woods  and  elsewhere.  It  was  found  that  even 
his  Excellency's  guards  were  corrupted,  mainly  through 
the  man  Thomas  Hickey,  and  of  him  there  was  made 
an  example.  Much  of  the  testimony,  however,  was  too 
dubious  to  convict  the  better  class  of  the  culprits,  and 
the  miyor  declared  that  he  had  protested  against  the 


272  A    YANKEE    VOLUNTEER. 

whole  matter ;  nevertheless,  he  was  thrown  into  prison 
to  await  trial. 

Hickey,  who  proved  to  be  a  deserter  from  the  British 
army,  and  thus  a  double  traitor,  was  sentenced  by  court- 
martial  to  be  hanged.  As  a  matter  therefore  of  salutary 
warning  to  all  such  plotters,  he  was  one  morning,  at  the 
end  of  June,  escorted  by  a  detachment  of  soldiers, 
carrying  fixed  bayonets,  to  a  field  near  Bowery  Lane. 
There  the  poor  wretch  was  hanged  in  the  presence  of 
a  great  concourse  of  people.  I  was  sorry  that  the  greater 
rascal,  Gilbert  Forbes,  hung  not  with  him,  as  Hickey 
himself  had  prophesied ;  but  they  were  not  punished 
together. 

On  the  next  day,  while  the  city  was  yet  reflecting 
upon  the  end  of  the  evildoer,  ships-of-war  appeared 
off  Staten  Island.  Word  flew  from  mouth  to  mouth 
that  the  Ministerial  army  had  come  at  last,  and  it 
was  true.  The  fleet  from  Halifax,  full  forty  sail,  had 
passed  the  Narrows,  and  lay  below  Staten  Island,  wait 
ing  for  the  coming  of  Lord  Howe,  the  sailor  brother 
of  General  William  Howe,  and  commonly  called,  on 
account  of  his  swarthy  skin,  "  Black  Dick."  He  loved 
business  and  was  a  fighting  admiral ;  the  very  opposite 
in  every  way  of  Mr.  Howe,  who  was  indolent  and  no 
great  warrior ;  a  man  who  loved  women  and  the  gaming 
table. 


CHAPTER  XXXIV. 

THE    FORTUNE    OF   WAR. 

IN  the  early  evening  of  the  ninth  of  July,  1776,  the 
Continental  troops  stationed  about  New  York  City  were 
assembled  on  the  Common  in  front  of  Saint  Paul's 
Church.  Below,  in  the  bay,  lay  the  fleet  of  King  George, 
the  standard  of  old  England  floating  proudly  from  every 
masthead.  The  hearts  of  our  men  stirred  with  a  deep 
emotion,  since  we  of  the  patriot  army  knew  that  great 
tidings  had  come  from  Philadelphia,  where  the  Congress 
was  assembled.  We  waited  therefore,  in  that  quiet 
hour,  with  eager  expectation,  nor  were  we  disappointed 
in  our  hopes.  That  document  which  made  the  United 
Colonies  a  free  and  sovereign  State,  the  Declaration  of 
Independence,  was  read  to  us,  adopted  five  days  before 
by  the  General  Congress  at  Philadelphia.  The  solemn 
words  were  heard  with  reverence,  and  the  multitude 
responded  with  wild  applause.  The  fire  of  patriotic  zeal 
moved  men  to  a  great  demonstration,  and  for  a  few 
moments  no  sound  was  heard  but  tumultuous  cheering ; 
then  we  listened  once  more  to  his  Excellency's  own 
words  of  encouragement  and  advice.  To  him  this 
Declaration  was  a  great  relief,  for  many  men  had  been 
hanging  back  from  the  cause  in  hopes  of  a  pacification. 

"  The  general  hopes,"  thus  ran  his  orders  of  the  day, 
"  that  this  important  event  will  serve  as  a  fresh  incentive 
to  every  officer  and  soldier,  to  act  with  fidelity  and 

18 


274  A    YANKEE    VOLUNTEER. 

courage,  as  knowing  that  now  the  peace  and  safety  of  his 
country  depend,  under  God,  solely  on  the  success  of  our 
arms ;  and  that  he  is  now  in  the  service  of  a  State  pos 
sessed  of  sufficient  power  to  reward  his  merit,  and 
advance  him  to  the  highest  honors  of  a  free  country." 

It  was  to  him,  as  to  many  of  us,  the  end  of  temporiz 
ing,  the  beginning  of  an  energetic  and  determined  course, 
and  we  hailed  it  with  joy.  The  colonies  had  now 
openly  declared  that  they  were  free  and  would  remain 
so ;  and  we  might  confidently  hope  that  they  would  con 
tend  for  this  principle  until  the  end  was  victoriously 
accomplished.  Verily,  a  great  change  had  been  wrought 
in  two  short  years ;  when  the  Port  Bill  was  enforced  in 
Massachusetts  Bay,  men  stood  aghast  at  the  violence  of 
the  opposition  to  the  Ministerial  party,  no  one  then 
dreaming  of  open  disloyalty  to  the  king.  Ay,  and  if  the 
Government  had  been  wise  enough  to  conciliate  the 
colonists,  this  end  would  never  have  been  accomplished, 
but  now  there  was  no  longer  room  for  vain  regret. 
Yet  it  was  not  many  days  before  my  Lord  Howe  came, 
clothed  with  the  powers  of  a  commissioner,  to  make 
terms  with  the  king's  indignant  people. 

The  solemnity  of  the  occasion  seemed  that  night 
to  touch  men's  hearts  less  than  the  joy  of  it,  and  the 
town  was  wild.  Bells  rang,  and  people  shouted  in  the 
streets,  and  many  bonfires  were  kindled.  In  Bowling 
Green,  before  the  fort,  stood  the  leaden  statue  of  the 
king,  and  here  the  mob  collected,  soldiers  and  idle  fel 
lows  and  women,  who  might  better  have  stayed  at  home, 
and  little  wanton  children.  These,  with  a  great  uproar, 
pulled  down  the  image  of  King  George  and  melted  it 
for  bullets  for  the  common  cause.  It  was  but  the  out 
burst  of  the  popular  displeasure  against  him  whom  they 
supposed  to  be  the  author  of  their  troubles.  Yet  it  dis- 


THE  FORTUNE  OF  WAR. 

pleased  General  Washington  because  it  resembled  a  riot 
more  than  a  sober  expression  of  the  people's  feeling,  and 
he  rebuked  them  in  his  orders  on  the  following  day. 

Events  crowded  upon  each  other,  and  men  watched 
with  eager  interest  the  enemy's  fleet,  lying  in  the  bay. 
We  were  in  constant  anticipation  of  an  attack,  and  were 
at  our  alarm-posts  at  three  and  four  o'clock  in  the  morn 
ing.  A  sleepless  vigilance  guarded  the  city,  yet  were 
the  inhabitants  in  a  pitiable  state  of  trepidation ;  and 
when  the  British  war-ships,  the  Phoenix  and  the  Rose, 
sailed  up  the  bay  replying  to  our  batteries  with  their 
broadsides,  the  streets  were  filled  with  shrieking  women 
and  children.  The  thundering  of  the  cannon  and  the 
pitiful  cries  of  these  poor  creatures  moved  us  to  com 
passion,  and  his  Excellency  feared  the  effect  upon  the 
raw  recruits  who  were  too  easily  affrighted  at  the  horrors 
of  war.  It  was  thought  that  day  that  the  city  would 
certainly  be  attacked,  and  the  wildest  confusion  pre 
vailed  ;  but  the  ships  went  on  up  the  Hudson  and  re 
mained  there  at  Tappan  Zee,  to  the  great  consternation 
of  the  Highlands.  But  we  lay  upon  our  arms  and 
were  ordered  to  watch  constantly  for  the  signals  that 
would  call  us  to  our  posts ;  these  were  to  be  a  flag  in 
the  day-time,  or  a  light  at  night  in  the  fort  on  Bayard's 
Hill,  with  three  guns  fired  from  the  same  place,  fired 
quick  but  distinct,  and  there  would  be  also  two  guns 
from  Fort  George.  The  inhabitants  endured  a  constant 
anxiety,  looking  for  the  destruction  of  their  homes  and 
their  own  ruin.  It  was  upon  the  very  morning  after  the 
Phoenix  and  the  Rose  had  so  terrified  the  weak-hearted, 
that  guns  boomed  on  the  fleet  of  the  enemy,  and  word 
flew  through  the  city  that  Ix>rd  Howe  was  come.  It 
was  so ;  the  admiral's  ship  had  entered  the  bay,  and 
from  her  foretop  masthead  floated  Saint  George's  flag. 


2/6  A    YANKEE    VOLUNTEER. 

Our  enemies  were  in  full  strength,  and  their  commander 
with  them  at  last.  Yet,  while  the  good  town  trembled 
at  the  thought  of  the  approaching  conflict,  the  Declara 
tion  of  Independence  was  again  read  at  the  city  hall, 
upon  Wall  Street,  and  the  king's  arms,  brought  from  the 
court-room,  were  burned  in  the  open  street  amid  the 
acclaims  of  the  populace.  A  free  people  bade  defiance 
to  their  enemies ! 

Now  followed  a  season  when  the  British  remained 
passive,  while  Lord  Howe  endeavored  to  win  over  the 
people  to  the  king.  He  declared  that  he  and  his 
brother,  Sir  William,  were  in  fact  commissioners  to  es 
tablish  peace,  and  he  invited  all  men  to  merit  pardon 
from  the  crown  by  a  prompt  return  to  their  duty.  This 
doctrine  was  like  to  have  a  pernicious  effect,  because  of 
the  constant  machinations  of  the  Tories,  and  General 
Washington  had  already  been  compelled  to  take  meas 
ures  against  them.  In  those  days  there  was  much  talk 
of  Lord  Howe's  peaceful  overtures,  and  there  was  a  con 
ference  at  headquarters  between  his  Excellency  and  the 
British  adjutant-general,  Colonel  Patterson.  Yet  nothing 
came  of  it,  and  all  the  while  we  continued  to  arm  and  to 
fortify,  especially  in  the  Highlands,  where  we  were  less 
prepared  and  it  seemed  likely  that  the  enemy  would 
attempt  to  seize  the  Hudson.  There  was  a  scheme,  too, 
for  destroying  the  fleet  with  fire-ships ;  but  that  came  to 
naught,  and  we  drifted  onward  with  the  tide,  steadily 
toward  the  conflict.  Soon  the  Hessians  arrived,  and  Staten 
Island  grew  white  with  their  tents.  The  enemy  num 
bered  in  all  full  thirty  thousand  men,  while  we  had 
not  yet  twenty,  and  many  of  these  disabled  by  illness. 
Moreover  we  were  forced  to  man  posts  fifteen  miles 
apart,  chiefly  with  new  recruits.  There  was  unhappily 
jealousy  between  the  colonies,  and  small  dissensions 


THE  FORTUNE   OF   WAR. 

constantly  arose  despite  the  tireless  vigilance  of  General 
Washington.  He  had  to  contend  with  the  faults  com 
mon  to  untrained  soldiers,  and  constantly  endeavored 
also  to  prevent  his  rustics  from  learning  the  vices  of  the 
regulars.  In  the  midst  of  outward  danger  and  of  de 
pression  at  home,  he  forgot  not  the  moral  concfition  of 
his  men,  and  in  the  orders  on  the  third  of  August  it  was 
stated  :  "  The  general  is  sorry  to  be  informed,  that  the 
foolish  and  wicked  practice  of  profane  cursing  and 
swearing,  a  vice  heretofore  little  known  in  an  American 
army,  is  growing  into  fashion.  He  hopes  the  officers 
will,  by  example  as  well  as  influence,  endeavor  to  check 
it,  and  that  both  they  and  the  men  will  reflect,  that  we 
can  have  little  hope  of  the  blessing  of  Heaven  on  our 
arms,  if  we  insult  it  by  our  impiety  and  folly.  Added  to 
this,  it  is  a  vice  so  mean  and  low,  without  any  tempta 
tion,  that  every  man  of  sense  and  character  detests  and 
despises  it." 

As  usual,  the  array  of  our  army  was  a  strange  one  ;  we 
had  sent  out  a  call  for  more  men,  and  these  came  from 
the  plow,  and  having  no  guns,  brought  with  them  shovels, 
pickaxes,  and  scythes ;  with  such  weapons  they  were  to 
meet  the  flower  of  England's  soldiers.  General  Na- 
thanael  Greene  was  in  command  at  the  village  of  Brook 
lyn,  which  was  opposite  New  York,  the  East  River  running 
between.  The  village  stood  upon  a  peninsula,  with  Wall- 
about  Bay  on  the  north  and  Gowanus  Cove  on  the  south. 
At  Red  Hook,  the  southwest  corner  of  the  peninsula,  was 
erected  a  battery.  Some  two  miles  from  the  intrench- 
ments  was  a  range  of  densely  wooded  hills  that  formed  a 
natural  barrier  across  the  island.  This,  then,  was  the 
scene  of  the  great  battle,  not  New  York,  as  we  supposed 
that  it  would  be.  Unhappily,  at  the  crisis,  General 
Greene,  who  understood  the  fortifications  and  the  situa- 


2/8  A    YANKEE    VOLUNTEER. 

tion  of  the  army,  was  stricken  with  a  fever,  and  General 
Sullivan  assumed  command. 

I  shall  always  remember  the  day  when  the  tidings 
came  that  the  enemy's  forces  were  in  motion.  It  was 
upon  the  twenty-first  of  August,  and  from  seven  in  the 
morning  a  fearful  storm  had  raged  over  the  city  of  New 
York.  Never  had  men  seen  the  equal ;  for  three  hours 
the  rain  fell  in  torrents  and  the  thunder  rolled,  while  all 
the  sky  was  on  fire  with  electricity.  Death  was  in  the 
bolts,  and  four  soldiers  of  the  line  and  three  officers  were 
struck  by  the  lightning.  Awe  was  in  the  hearts  of  men, 
and  we  watched  the  glorious  fury  of  the  elements  with 
strange  premonitions  that  evil  was  at  hand.  In  the 
midst  of  the  tempest  came  an  express  from  Brigadier- 
General  Livingston,  telling  us  that  the  British  had  em 
barked,  twenty  thousand  strong,  to  attack  Long  Island, 
and  were  determined  to  "put  all  to  the  sword." 

The  next  day,  the  sound  of  cannon  came  from  Long 
Island,  and  smoke  arose  from  its  groves  and  pleasant 
orchards.  Regiment  after  regiment  was  hurried  to  the 
front,  and  we  who  were  forced  to  remain  inactive  panted 
with  impatience.  The  scenes  in  the  city  were  most  piti 
ful  ;  the  inhabitants  who  were  able  to  procure  transpor 
tation  began  hurriedly  to  remove  their  goods,  while  the 
poorer  sort  besieged  Washington  for  aid  and  for  protec 
tion  ;  the  women  and  children,  frantic  with  grief  and 
fear,  ran  aimlessly  about  the  streets,  weeping  and  la 
menting.  All  the  while  the  roar  of  artillery  sounded 
in  the  distance,  and  clouds  of  smoke  floated  ominously 
above  the  battlefield,  which  was  in  the  wooded  land 
above  Flatbush,  or  so  we  thought  it,  though  in  fact  the 
enemy's  forces  were  divided,  some  being  at  Flatbush  and 
some  going  from  Gravesend  through  Utrecht.  A  wild 
rumor  that  the  city  of  New  York  would  be  set  on  fire  if 


THK  FORTUNE   OF  WAR.  2?$ 

we  retreated,  drove  the  inhabitants  to  frenzy,  and  truly 
the  condition  of  the  people  was  such  that  the  hardest 
heart  would  have  been  moved  in  sympathy  with  their 
terrors.  His  Excellency,  ever  tender  to  women  and 
children,  was  full  of  pity,  and  endeavored  to  pacify  their 
fears  and  aid  them,  when  he  could,  especially  those  who 
were  poor  or  helpless. 

Until  the  day  of  the  unfortunate  battle  in  which  we 
lost  so  many  of  our  brave  fellows,  there  were  continual 
skirmishes  at  the  outposts,  and  at  last  I  obtained  permis 
sion  to  join  General  Putnam,  whom  Washington  sent  over 
to  take  command.  In  the  midst  of  such  excitement 
and  danger,  I  could  endure  no  longer  my  post  with  the 
reserve  at  New  York. 

On  the  night  of  the  twenty-sixth  of  August,  the  enemy 
advanced  by  stealth  from  Flatlands,  guided,  as  we  learned 
afterwards,  by  a  Tory  of  Long  Island.     They  came  upon 
us  through  the  pass  of  Bedford  Hills,  while  another  wing 
of  their  army  advanced  from  Gravesend  to  the  right  of 
our  works,  by  Gowanus  Cove.     Here  was  the  brigade  of 
Lord  Stirling,  and  I  was  that  night  in  his  camp,  so  that 
it  fell  to  my  portion  to  be  in  the  hottest  fight.     Before 
the  day  broke,  the  scouts  came  in  with  the  sudden  tid 
ings  of  the   enemy's   advance,  and   Lord   Stirling   was 
ordered  out  with  the  Delaware  and  Maryland  regiments 
to  keep  the  redcoats  in  check.     These  were  the  same 
men  who  had  been  called  the  "  macaronis  "  on  account 
of  their  dress  of  buff  and  scarlet  outshining  the  home 
spun   of  their   ragged    comrades    from    New  England. 
The  gay  uniforms  had  caused  much  heartburning,  but 
the  brave  fellows  turned  out  as  cheerfully  to  die  in  the 
common  cause  as  their  patched  and  faded  companions. 
We  advanced  toward  Gowanus  Cove,  and  there  found 
the  Pennsylvania  Provincials.     The  day  was   breaking, 


280  A    YANKEE    VOLUNTEER. 

and  in  the  gray  twilight  we  saw  the  columns  of  the 
enemy  advancing  upon  us.  Weird  was  the  scene ;  the 
dark  woods  upon  our  left,  and  the  gray  waters  on  our 
right;  before  us,  through  the  morning  vapors,  the  dark 
lines  of  the  foe,  and  stillness  over  all.  The  Pennsylvania 
troops  were  the  first  to  encounter  the  enemy,  and  after  a 
few  volleys  fell  back  into  the  woodland,  while  the  rest  of 
our  forces  took  position  in  front  of  them  and  along  a 
hedge  at  the  foot  of  the  hill.  We  could  hardly  hope  to 
do  more  than  hold  the  foe  in  check ;  but  strangely,  as  we 
then  thought,  they  did  not  at  once  endeavor  to  force  our 
position.  Later,  we  knew  that  they  had  but  waited  for 
the  arrival  of  Sir  Henry  Clinton  on  the  left  wing  of  our 
army.  We  took  their  backwardness  for  cowardice,  and 
I  remember  the  defiant  array  of  the  Delawares  and 
Marylanders,  who  were  drawn  up  on  the  side  of  the  hill 
for  several  hours,  with  flying  colors.  We  all  believed 
that  the  enemy  dared  not  attack  us  at  close  quarters, 
though  we  heard  the  thunder  of  their  artillery  in  the 
direction  of  Bedford  and  knew  that  a  great  battle  was 
upon  us.  It  was  the  sound  of  the  guns  that  warned  us 
at  last  that  the  enemy  had  come  between  us  and  our 
lines,  and  Lord  Stirling  endeavored  to  retreat  by  crossing 
the  creek  near  Yellow  Mills;  but  here  we  met  Lord 
Cornwallis.  We  were  hemmed  in  on  either  side,  and 
endeavored  again  to  extricate  ourselves.  Coming  upon 
a  party  of  the  enemy,  they  clubbed  their  firelocks  and 
signalled  to  us  as  if  they  intended  to  surrender,  but  when 
we  advanced  fired  upon  us.  We  returned  it  with  interest ; 
and  so  hotly  that  they  were  fain  to  fall  back  to  the  ambus 
cade  behind.  Desperate  was  the  struggle ;  the  shot 
flew  like  hail,  and  the  roar  of  artillery  on  every  hand 
shook  the  summer  air,  while  men  fought  hand  to  hand. 
We  broke  to  rally  again  in  the  woodland,  and  we  could 


THE  FORTUNE  OF  WAR.  281 

hear  the  cries  of  our  brave  comrades,  overpowered  and 
bayoneted  in  the  cornfield  near  at  hand  while  we  re 
treated  through  the  marshes.  In  the  midst  of  all  there 
was  a  cry  that  Lord  Stirling  was  taken,  which  indeed 
was  true,  for  he  had  been  forced  to  surrender  to  the 
Hessian  General  de  Heister. 

Twice  wounded  in  the  desperate  struggle,  once  by  a 
bullet  and  once  by  the  bayonet  of  a  Hessian,  I  struggled 
on  with  difficulty,  faint  from  loss  of  blood.  We  crossed 
the  marshes,  drenched  as  we  were  with  mud  and  water, 
and  pressed  backward  to  our  lines.  Every  step  was  a 
fresh  agony  to  me,  yet,  half  blind  with  weakness,  I  bore 
up,  helped  by  the  kind  arm  of  a  Delaware  comrade. 
We  entered  the  camp,  greeted  by  cheers,  for  we  carried 
a  standard  riddled  with  grape-shot,  yet  had  twenty- 
three  prisoners  with  us.  I  saw  the  faces  of  friends,  I 
heard  the  welcoming  shout,  and  then  I  fell,  and  blackness, 
as  of  eternal  night,  closed  round  me. 


CHAPTER   XXXV. 

AN   ANGEL   OF   MERCY. 

WHEN  consciousness  returned,  my  brain  was  dizzy 
with  the  violence  of  conflict.  So  much  so  that  I 
thought  that  I  had  dreamed  of  a  battlefield,  of  the  flash 
of  fire-arms,  the  roar  of  cannon,  the  clouds  of  smoke. 
I  was  the  more  doubtful  of  the  reality,  because  my  eyes 
opened  upon  a  quiet,  shaded  room,  the  four  walls  fresh 
and  white,  and  the  daylight  shining  dimly  through  the 
half-closed  green  shutters.  I  lay  on  white  pillows,  and 
white  curtains  draped  the  high  posts  of  the  bed,  and 
made  a  canopy  above  me.  Dreamy  and  half  conscious, 
I  viewed  the  place  with  a  vague  impression  that  I  was 
at  home  once  more,  the  great  cluster  of  rich-hued  pan- 
sies  on  the  table  by  my  side  increasing  the  deception. 
I  looked  at  them  with  a  blissful  feeling  of  relaxation 
from  all  care  and  trouble,  and  I  remember  to  this  day 
the  varied  hues  of  their  velvet  petals. 

After  a  while  a  deeper  consciousness  dispelled  my 
dreams.  I  roused  myself  to  marvel  at  surroundings 
which  I  knew  not,  and  to  listen  to  the  sound  of  rain 
falling  steadily  without.  Where  was  I?  How  came  I 
here  ?  Ah  !  a  move  taught  me  a  lesson  in  pain  and 
brought  back  the  faintness ;  my  wounds  made  me  re 
member.  But  when  had  it  happened?  Yesterday,  or 
a  thousand  years  ago?  I  could  not  tell,  and  was  far 
too  weak  to  question  fate.  Thus  I  lay  still  for  a  while 
and  marvelled  greatly,  but  saw  no  familiar  object  in  the 


AN  ANGEL  OF  MERCY  283 

room,  save  my  own  sword,  which  hung  before  me  on  the 
wall.  There  was  a  picture  of  a  woman  opposite,  but 
in  the  dim  light  I  could  not  discern  her  features.  Only 
this  I  knew,  the  stillness  of  the  place  soothed  my  spirit 
and  the  faint  sweetness  of  flowers  filled  the  atmosphere ; 
the  even  drip  of  the  rain  upon  the  roof  was  music  in 
my  ears ;  how  often  had  I  listened  to  it  at  home  in 
Snlem,  and  loved  the  homely  sound  !  I  was  too  weak 
to  feel  surprise  or  even  apprehension,  and  waited 
calmly,  when  I  saw  the  door  opposite  open  to  admit 
a  woman,  a  slender  figure,  in  a  violet-colored  gown 
with  a  white  kerchief  on  her  shoulders.  A  negro 
slave  followed  her,  and  closed  the  door  gently  behind 
her,  while  she  came  cautiously  toward  the  bed,  as  though 
she  feared  to  rouse  me  from  my  slumber.  I  knew  her, 
even  in  the  dimness,  the  pale  and  gentle  face  and  the 
soft  brown  hair ;  it  was  Miss  Wayne.  I  lay  quite  still 
and  watched  her  until  she  paused  beside  me  and  put 
her  soft  hand  on  my  forehead  with  the  light  firm  touch 
of  a  skilful  nurse.  Then  I  spoke,  and  at  my  voice  she 
started  back  in  joyful  surprise,  for  she  had  thought  me 
yet  in  the  stupor  in  which  I  had  lain  so  many  hours. 

"Is  this  a  vision?"  I  said,  "and  are  you  the  min 
istering  angel  who  transported  me  from  the  field  of 
battle?" 

"  No  angel,  only  your  friend  Dorothy  Wayne,"  she 
answered  cheerily,  "and  happy  am  I  to  find  you  awake 
and  conscious  of  your  surroundings.  Are  you  also  out 
of  pain,  Captain  Allen?" 

"Nay,"  I  responded,  fully  roused,  "now  I  know  I 
dream  not,  since  surely  a  kindly  spirit  would  scarcely 
call  me  captain.  For  the  pain,  I  feel  rather  a  great 
stiffness  and  •!  cannot  stir  out  of  this  white  bed.  But 
tell  me,  Miss  Wayne,  how  came  I  here  ?  " 


284  A    YANKEE    VOLUNTEER. 

"  You  came  without  your  own  knowledge  or  assent, 
truly,"  she  answered,  smiling ;  "  you  were  brought  over 
with  the  wounded  from  Long  Island  early  this  morning, 
and  upon  inquiry  we  found  you,  grandfather  and  I,  and 
had  you  brought  here  to  Hanover  Square  to  nurse  and 
tend  you." 

I  looked  at  her  sweet  face,  lighted  with  such  kindness, 
and  marvelled  at  their  friendship  for  one  so  lately  a 
stranger. 

"Verily,  then,"  I  said,  "you  are  the  good  angel  that 
I  thought  you.  But  tell  me,"  I  added  eagerly,  "  I  came 
over  with  the  wounded  from  Long  Island ;  how  went 
the  fight?  New  York  is  ours  ;  surely,  then,  we  won  !  " 

At  this,  I  saw  a  shadow  fall  on  her  bright  face  and 
doubt  come  into  her  eyes.  She  hesitated,  too,  as  though 
she  knew  not  how  to  answer. 

"  Evade  me  not !  "  I  cried  out  passionately.  "  If  it 
is  evil  fortune,  tell  me,  in  Heaven's  name ;  I  must  know 
it  in  the  end." 

She  put  her  firm  hand  on  mine  and  held  it,  trying  to 
quiet  me  as  she  would  a  child,  and  her  face  was  very 
sad. 

"  Nay,"  she  said  gently,  "  disquiet  not  your  heart  at 
such  a  time.  I  will  not  deceive  you,  nor  do  I  need  to. 
Surely  we  are  strong  enough  to  bear  disaster,  other 
wise  victory  could  never  crown  our  cause.  The  battle 
—  in  which  you  fought  so  bravely  —  was  lost,  but  not 
because  we  failed  in  courage." 

I  uttered  a  sharp  exclamation,  and  she  warned  me 
with  her  finger  to  be  still. 

"  We  lost  it,  because  their  force  was  so  much  the 
greater,"  she  went  on  quietly,  "  and  the  next  day  there 
was  rain  and  fog,  and  our  brave  fellows  stood  in  their 
trenches,  weary  and  wet  and  disheartened.  Then  came 


AN  ANGEL   OF  MERCY.  285 

the  tidings  that  the  great  fleet  of  the  British  was  astir, 
and  that  they  purposed  to  surround  Long  Island  and 
cut  off  the  army  to  destroy  it." 

"  In  Heaven's  name,"  I  cried,  "  tell  me  the  worst ; 
is  all  lost?" 

"  Nay,  listen,"  she  answered  gently ;  "  our  great,  our 
noble  commander-in-chief  saved  his  army,  saved  all 
those  brave  lives.  God  bless  him  for  his  courage  and 
his  wisdom  !  " 

"  Amen  !  "  I  answered  devoutly ;  "  but  tell  me  all, 
Miss  Wayne,  every  word  !  " 

"  I  will  tell  you,"  she  said,  smiling  sadly,  "  but  you 
are  like  a  child  that  will  not  be  satisfied.  His  Excel 
lency  determined  to  take  the  army  over  to  New  York 
last  night.  The  day  after  the  battle,  it  began  to  rain 
most  heavily ;  the  two  armies  lay  within  a  quarter  of 
a  mile  of  each  other,  and  throughout  the  day  there 
were  skirmishes.  Yesterday  a  dense  fog  hung  above 
the  island,  veiling  all  things  in  its  folds,  and  in  the  midst 
of  this  weird  scene,  full  of  alarms,  our  troops  prepared 
to  leave  their  intrenchments.  So  near  were  the  British 
that  the  stroke  of  spade  and  pickaxe  could  be  heard  at 
our  posts,  and  any  accident  might  bring  them  all  upon 
our  brave  fellows  as  they  attempted  to  retreat.  Yet 
did  our  army  begin  to  move ;  at  night  and  in  the  dark 
ness,  with  anxious  hearts,  wet  and  weary  in  body, 
the  Americans  marched  down  to  the  ferry.  General 
Mifflin,  with  the  Pennsylvania  regiments  and  the  sur 
vivors  of  the  gallant  Delawares  and  Marylanders,  re 
mained  on  guard,  in  the  face  of  the  whole  British  army, 
to  cover  their  retreat.  Silently,  anxiously,  wearily,  our 
army  moved,  and  the  brave  men  from  Marblehead  man 
aged  the  embarkation.  In  the  midst  of  this  awful  hush 
there  was  a  cannon  shot,  and  for  the  moment  it  seemed 


286  A    YANKEE    VOLUNTEER. 

that  all  was  lost !  Trepidation  was  in  our  ranks,  but 
still  the  enemy  was  not  aroused.  Another  accident  well 
nigh  ruined  us;  by  a  mistake  in  the  orders,  General 
Mifflin  withdrew  his  detachment  from  the  post  and 
came  down  also  to  the  ferry.  Here  prevailed  great  con 
fusion,  for  the  tide  had  turned  and  the  wind  was  blowing 
from  the  northeast.  There  were  not  enough  boats  with 
oars,  and  the  sails  made  no  headway  against  wind  and 
tide.  And  now  came  General  Mifflin,  and  our  com 
mander  thought  that  all  was  lost ;  but  Mifflin  and  his 
gallant  men  went  back  —  back  to  face  the  foe  —  and 
happily  the  fog  had  hid  the  trenches  so  they  knew  not 
of  the  absence  of  the  men.  Think  of  those  brave 
hearts  !  Back  from  the  ferry,  back  from  their  retreating 
comrades,  alone  —  to  face  the  army  of  Great  Britain! 
Surely  the  Lord  of  Hosts  was  with  us,  for  the  fog  con 
cealed  us,  as  the  pillar  of  smoke  concealed  the  Israelites ; 
the  adverse  wind  ceased,  the  waters  became  calm,  and 
our  brave  men  came  safely  over.  Last  came  Mifflin's 
force  and  General  Washington,  upon  whom  no  entreaties 
prevailed  to  depart  from  the  post  of  danger  until  the 
last  man  was  embarked.  The  fog  lifted  as  they  crossed 
the  ferry,  and  the  enemy,  at  last  alarmed,  were  seen  in 
numbers  on  the  farther  shore,  but  our  army  was  saved." 

She  paused  and  looked  at  me  with  sparkling  eyes,  her 
face  flushed  and  animated  and  her  young  form  erect. 
She  looked  like  an  inspired  prophetess.  But  my  thoughts 
were  sad  ones. 

"  And  now?  "  I  said  ;  "  how  fares  it  with  us?  " 

In  a  moment  she  was-  cast  down,  yet  she  endeavored 
to  answer  me  with  cheerful  spirit. 

"  We  yet  hold  the  city,"  she  said  simply,  "  but  the 
enemy  has  garrisoned  Long  Island,  and  their  ships 
menace  us." 


AN  ANGEL    OF  MERCY.  287 

"  It  storms  heavily,"  I  said,  listening  to  the  rain ;  "  in 
what  condition  is  the  city  ?  " 

"  It  is  a  sorry  spectacle,"  she  admitted  with  reluctance, 
"  wet  clothing  and  camp  equipage  are  strewed  upon  the 
streets  and  in  the  yards  of  the  houses ;  the  squads  of 
soldiers  passing  to  and  fro  below  us  are  haggard  from 
their  terrible  experience  and  the  ceaseless  vigil,  and 
unhappily  many  enlistments  are  at  an  end,  and  —  " 

"  In  Heaven's  name,"  I  cried,  "  surely  no  man 
deserts  his  flag  at  this  hour?" 

She  bowed  her  head  sadly.  "  But  too  many,"  she 
replied. 

"  The  knaves  ! "  I  exclaimed  bitterly, "  the  poltroons  ! " 

"  Nay,"  she  said  sadly,  "  let  us  not  judge  them  ;  they 
are  but  rustics,  and  unused  to  all  the  fearful  incidents  of 
war.  The  plow  stands  in  the  furrow  in  their  fields  at 
home,  and  mayhap  their  families  are  in  need.  Death  is 
ever  terrible  to  the  faint-hearted,  and  surely  in  battle  it 
is  clothed  with  all  its  terrors." 

"  Your  Quaker  blood  is  all  for  peace,"  I  said,  watch 
ing  her  with  interest,  for  she  seemed  to  exhibit  a  new 
character  from  that  which  I  had  attributed  to  her.  She 
had  seemed  gentle  even  to  meekness,  but  now  I  saw  no 
lack  of  spirit.  She  looked  up,  as  I  spoke,  with  kindling 
eyes. 

"  Yet  I  believe  that  I  could  fight,"  she  exclaimed  ;  "  it 
seems  to  me  that  in  the  field,  knowing  my  cause  a  right 
eous  one,  fired  with  the  excitement  of  the  moment, 
thrilled  with  the  wild  hope  of  victory  —  I  could  fight !  " 

"  I  believe  it,"  I  said,  smiling  faintly,  "  and  you  would 
look  like  an  avenging  angel.  Alas  for  me,  I  lie  here 
crippled  at  the  very  hour  when  I  am  most  needed  !  " 

"  And  is  it  not  worth  the  wounds  to  know  that  duty 
gallantly  and  faithfully  done  has  won  the  general's 


288  A    YANKEE    VOLUNTEER. 

praise?  "  she  exclaimed,  with  a  thrill  in  her  rich  voice. 
"  He  saw  the  brigade  of  Lord  Stirling,  watched  the  action 
with  his  field-glass,  saw  Lord  Cornwallis  cut  off  your 
retreat,  and  they  say  that  he  wrung  his  hands  at  the 
sight.  When,  instead  of  surrendering,  you  charged  gal 
lantly  in  the  face  of  such  numbers,  '  Good  God  ! '  he 
cried,  '  what  brave  fellows  I  must  this  day  lose  ! '  " 

"Ah,  but  he  did  not  lose  me,"  I  remarked  quietly ; 
"the  dead  are  ever  braver  than  the  living!" 

"  Yet  he  has  sent  here  already  to  ask  for  you  by 
name,"  she  said,  and  smiled  brightly,  pleased  as  if  the 
honor  had  come  to  her. 

"Is  it  so?"  I  murmured  softly,  deeply  moved,  for  I 
loved  him  for  his  high  courage  and  his  stern  sense  of 
honor,  and  now  the  sting  of  that  old  wound  was  healed. 
I  had  won  on  the  field  the  regard  that  I  had  once  so 
nearly  lost  forever. 

Such  cheering  thoughts  I  needed,  since  it  was  bitter 
indeed  to  lie  there  and  hear  the  stir  in  the  street  and 
presently  the  distant  roar  of  cannon,  and  be  no  better 
than  a  log.  Burning  with  impatience,  I  tossed  upon  my 
pillow,  and  was  only  comfprted  when  Dorothy  came  to 
bring  the  latest  tidings,  which  she  did  faithfully  each 
day,  and  tended  me  with  all  the  gentleness  of  a  sister. 
Her  grandmother  and  old  Mr.  Wayne  himself  were  often 
at  my  pillow,  and  the  faithful  black  slave,  who  had 
attended  Dorothy,  was  ever  in  the  room,  watching  for 
my  smallest  need.  Tenderness  and  care  I  had  in 
plenty,  and  General  Washington,  amid  all  his  anxieties, 
forgot  not  to  send  me  kind  messages  of  inquiry  and  com 
mendation.  My  father,  hearing  of  my  condition,  came 
on  from  Philadelphia  and  stayed  with  me  for  a  little 
while,  to  my  great  comfort. 

Meanwhile  the  city  was  in  deep  distress,  and  often 


AN  ANGEL   OF  MERCY.  289 

the  weeping  voices  of  women  and  children  sounded 
below  my  window.  The  fact  that  we  could  not  hold  the 
town  with  our  small  force  against  the  enemy  grew  daily 
more  patent,  even  to  the  lower  classes,  and  there  were 
the  wildest  rumors  that  New  York  would  be  burned  when 
we  withdrew.  Again  the  people  clung  to  his  Excellency 
for  help  and  for  protection,  and  again  his  noble  heart  was 
torn  with  pity  for  the  weak  and  the  defenceless.  The 
British  and  the  Tories  were  busily  circulating  enormous 
falsehoods  about  our  intended  dealings  with  the  town, 
to  spread  disaffection  among  the  people.  The  thought 
of  burning  it,  rather  than  permitting  it  to  serve  as  a 
winter  shelter  for  the  enemy,  had  in  fact  been  discussed ; 
but  Congress  was  against  it,  as  the  loss  would  fall  too 
heavily  upon  the  unhappy  citizens  who  were  loyal  to  our 
cause.  Yet  no  one  could  reassure  the  ignorant,  or 
those  whose  minds  were  poisoned  with  Tory  falsehoods, 
and  the  distress  was  pitiful  enough.  The  wealthy  Whigs 
had  fled  with  their  household  goods,  and  such  as  were 
too  poor  to  escape  greater  misfortune  wept  in  the 
streets.  It  is  the  poor  who  suffer  ever. 

In  those  weary  September  days  I  lay  still  helpless  and 
waited,  my  greatest  comfort  being  Dorothy's  gentle 
friendship,  her  unfailing  cheerfulness.  Whatever  the 
fate  of  the  city,  her  aged  grandparents  would  remain  to 
watch  their  property,  and  a  personal  acquaintance  with 
Mr.  Howe  assured  their  safety,  but  Dorothy  bewailed 
the  thought  of  staying  in  the  camp  of  the  enemy.  It 
was  certain  that  we  must  withdraw ;  the  wounded  had 
already  been  sent  to  Orangetown,  and  Washington's 
headquarters  were  to  be  transferred  to  King's  Bridge. 
My  father  had  arranged  for  my  removal  to  a  farmhouse 
some  distance  up  the  Hudson,  since  I  was  now  able  to 
be  moved.  I  should  remain  but  a  short  time  longer 
'9 


A    YANKEE    VOLUNTEER. 

beneath  the  roof  that  had  so  kindly  sheltered  me,  and 
those  last  days  were  filled  with  cheerful  kindness  from 
my  benefactors,  and  my  heart  was  full  of  gratitude  to  all 
of  them.  My  couch  was  drawn  to  the  window  in  the 
evenings,  and  there,  the  night  before  I  left,  I  had  a  long 
and  quiet  talk  with  Dorothy.  She  told  me  of  the  move 
ments  of  the  British  fleet,  of  the  constant  expectation  of 
a  landing  somewhere  near  New  York,  of  his  Excellency's 
sleepless  vigilance  and  his  anxiety  to  protect  the  Hudson. 
Having  satisfied  my  eager  appetite  for  every  scrap  of 
news,  aided  by  a  word  here  and  there  from  her  grand 
father,  who  sat  near  us,  she  went  on  to  talk  of  homely 
matters,  and  after  that  the  old  man  heeded  us  no  more. 
So  we  talked  there  in  the  soft  twilight,  looking  out 
upon  the  garden,  where  only  the  nasturtiums  had  outlived 
the  heat,  and  in  our  ears  were  the  low  sounds  of  the 
city,  hushed  at  evening.  It  happened  that  we  spoke 
again  of  Salem  and  my  childhood,  and  I  told  her,  for  the 
first  time,  of  my  younger  playmates,  Joyce  and  Richard 
Talbot,  and  she  listened  with  warm  interest.  Her  face 
was  fair  and  pale  that  night,  and  her  brown  eyes  had  the 
shadows  of  the  twilight  in  them.  I  told  her  of  the  sep 
aration  of  the  families  and  of  Sir  Anthony's  death,  and 
the  departure  of  Lady  Talbot  and  Joyce. 

"And  you  know  not  where  they  are  now?  "  she  asked 
softly  ;  "  you  have  no  tidings  from  them  ?  " 
w  "  Nay,"  I  answered  sadly,  "  the  sword  has  cut  com 
munications  off;  but  this  I  know,  they  were  with   the 
fleet  at  Halifax." 

"It  may  be,  then,  that  they  are  at  Staten  Island  now," 
she  said  dreamily. 

I  started  at  the  thought.  "  I  would  they  were,"  I 
cried  with  feeling;  "to  see  her  face  would  be  indeed 
a  joy." 


AN  ANGEL   OF  MERCY.  2QI 

"  Her  face  ? "  she  repeated  quietly,  her  brown  eyes 
suddenly  upon  me. 

Then  I  knew  I  was  betrayed,  and  smiled,  and  felt  the 
telltale  blood  in  my  face. 

"  You  mean  Joyce  Talbot's,"  she  said  in  a  low  voice ; 
"  it  is  as  I  thought,  you  love  her?  " 

"  I  have  loved  her  nearly  all  my  life,"  I  answered 
simply,  moved  to  tell  her  because  she  was  so  sweet  and 
full  of  sympathy. 

Rut  I  was  disappointed  by  her  manner  of  receiving 
it ;  her  face  was  turned  away  from  me,  and  she  continued 
to  look  earnestly  from  the  window,  and  for  a  while  said 
nothing,  so  that  I  was  half  sorry  for  speaking,  feeling 
that  she  cared  not  for  my  trials.  At  last  she  turned  and 
there  was  a  bright  spot  of  color  in  her  cheeks  and  her 
eyes  shone  in  the  dim  light. 

"  I  thank  you  for  your  confidence,  Captain  Allen," 
she  said  quietly.  "  Will  you  not  tell  me  —  about  Miss 
Talbot?  Is  she  very  beautiful?  Good  and  sweet,  I 
am  sure,  she  must  be." 

And  this  touched  my  heart,  and  I  told  her  many 
things  of  the  past. 

"  She  is  beautiful  to  me,"  I  said  tenderly ;  "  but  I  am 
her  lover,  so  it  may  be  I  cannot  judge." 

"  Nay,"  said  Dorothy,  sweetly,  "  love  is  our  best 
judge ;  love  sees  the  noblest  side  of  our  natures,  our 
fairest  smiles.  Beautiful  she  is,  then,  but  what  color  are  her 
eyes,  her  hair?  Truly,  a  woman  always  likes  to  know." 

"  Her  eyes,"  I  answered,  with  a  lingering  joy  in  speak 
ing  of  her  again,  —  "  her  eyes  are  like  the  sky,  blue  some 
times,  sometimes  gray,  and  they  can  smile  and  frown  and 
threaten  and  rejoice,  as  I  have  never  seen  any  eyes  but 
hers.  Her  hair  —  why,  Miss  Wayne,  I  had  nearly  said 
that  it  was  brown  like  yours,  but  then  there  is  a  touch 


292  A    YANKEE    VOLUNTEER. 

upon  it  as  if  the  sun   had  shone  brightly  on  its  wavy 
tresses." 

For  a  while  after  this  she  sat  silent,  and  then  she  asked 
me,  smiling,  how  tall  she  was. 

"  What  is  it  that  Shakespeare  saith  ?  "  I  answered 
softly,  "'just  as  high  as  my  heart.'" 

Dorothy  rose  and  stood  looking  at  me,  her  brown  eyes 
still  shining,  but  the  sudden  color  faded  from  her  cheeks. 

"I  esteem  her  happy,  Mr.  Allen,"  she  said  softly, 
"  for,  verily,  you  love  her,  and  it  is  a  great  happiness,  and 
also,  as  I  think,  a  great  blessing  to  be  so  steadfastly 
beloved." 

With  this  she  left  me  and  went  out,  nor  did  I  see  her 
again  that  evening,  and  the  next  day  she  was  ill,  or  so 
they  said.  But  when  I  went  away  at  last,  just  before 
the  enemy  landed  at  Kip's  Bay,  she  came  to  bid  me 
good-bye  and  was  more  gentle  than  ever.  As  we  parted, 
she  gave  me  an  assurance  that  rejoiced  my  heart. 

It  was  when  I  held  her  hand  at  parting  that  she  said 
to  me  in  a  low  tone,  "  If  Miss  Talbot  comes  to  New 
York,  I  will  find  the  means  to  send  the  tidings  to  you." 

I  thanked  her  warmly,  and  called  her  my  good  angel ; 
at  this  she  laughed  and  blushed. 

"  Nay,"  she  said,  "  I  am  but  an  attendant  spirit ;  your 
angel's  eyes  are  of  the  color  of  the  sky." 

"  And  you  will  befriend  her  here?  "  I  asked  eagerly. 

"  She  will  not  need  it,"  she  replied ;  "  but  truly,  I  will 
be  her  friend  if  she  will  let  me.  This  I  promise." 

So  we  parted,  and  she  watched  me,  standing  on  the 
doorstep  shading  her  eyes  with  her  hands,  and  her  white 
gown  dazzling  in  the  September  sun.  While  we  drove 
away,  I  looked  back  and  waved  my  hat,  and  in  my  heart 
blessed  her  for  ail  her  kindness,  which  had  been  that  of 
a  dear  sister. 


CHAPTER  XXXVI. 

TIDINGS. 

I  WAS  removed  to  a  farmhouse  above  King's  Bridge, 
and  lay  there  the  day  that  our  troops  were  forced  to 
retreat  to  Harlem  Heights.  Sorely  I  fretted,  too,  at  my 
inactivity,  but  had  the  hope  now  to  console  me  that 
before  many  days  I  could  be  again  in  the  saddle.  Tid 
ings  came  to  even  that  quiet  retreat  of  the  great  events 
at  New  York,  and  I  and  my  rustic  attendants  waited 
with  eager  anxiety  for  every  word  that  brought  us  infor 
mation.  I  heard,  with  shame,  of  the  confusion  and 
flight  of  the  New  England  troops  from  their  intrench- 
ments  when  the  British  landed  between  Turtle  and  Kip's 
Bays.  At  the  sound  of  the  cannonade  from  the  ships, 
General  Washington  had  spurred  in  hot  haste  to  the 
scene  of  action.  They  told  me,  afterwards,  of  his  wrath 
and  his  despair  when,  riding  up  from  Althorpe's  house 
on  the  Bloomingdale  road,  he  met  the  fugitives  in  the 
cornfield  behind  Murray's  estate.  He  tried  in  vain  to 
rally  them,  to  drive  them  back,  but  at  the  sight  of  half 
a  dozen  redcoats,  they  turned  again  and  ran  like  sheep. 
In  vain  his  Excellency  called  to  them,  struck  at  them 
with  his  sword ;  no  earthly  power  could  rally  them,  and 
it  was  said  that  he  flung  his  hat  upon  the  ground  and 
cried  out,  in  one  of  his  wild  outbursts  of  passion,  "  Are 
these  the  men  with  whom  I  am  to  defend  America?" 
So  distracted  was  he  with  grief  and  anger,  that  he  con 
sidered  not  the  peril  of  the  hour,  exposing  his  own  per- 


294  A    YANKEE    VOLUNTEER. 

son  to  death  or  capture.  When  the  enemy  was  within 
some  eighty  yards,  his  aide-de-camp  caught  his  horse's 
bridle  and  led  him  from  the  field.  What  is  one  man's 
heroism  in  the  face  of  the  cowardice  of  hundreds?  Hap 
pily,  he  failed  not  in  the  effort  to  secure  Harlem  Heights, 
and  so  prevented  the  enemy  from  cutting  his  army  in  two. 
General  Putnam  brought  off  the  troops  and  women  and 
children  from  New  York,  but  he  was  forced  to  abandon 
much  food  and  ammunition.  In  the  great  heat  and 
dust,  the  brave  old  man  led  his  army  along  the  Bloom- 
ingdale  road  under  the  fire  of  the  enemy's  guns,  and 
brought  them  at  last  to  Harlem.  It  was  ever  said  that 
save  for  Mrs.  Murray  he  would  have  been  destroyed. 
She,  good  woman,  kept  Sir  William  Howe  and  his 
officers  at  Murray  Hill,  eating  and  drinking,  while  her 
weary  and  despairing  countrymen  effected  their  escape. 
Never  did  wine  and  cake  a  greater  service  to  a  country's 
cause,  and  a  strong  man  may  not  despise  a  woman's 
gentler  wiles,  since  sometimes  they  prevail  where  the 
sword  would  be  snapped  asunder.  After  the  retreat  the 
army  took  position  below  Fort  Washington,  its  lines  ex 
tending  from  Harlem  River  to  the  Hudson  and  with 
King's  Bridge  in  their  rear,  securing  the  only  pass  from 
Manhattan  to  the  mainland.  Here  it  was  that  before 
many  days  the  enemy  insulted  us  by  appearing  in 
triumph  and  winding  their  bugles  as  they  do  after  a  fox 
hunt.  General  Washington  was  deeply  mortified  thereat, 
and  the  poorest  of  us  felt  the  insult.  Mayhap,  though, 
it  had  a  fortunate  effect,  since  the  men  were  shamed,  and 
there  was  a  successful  skirmish  made,  our  troops  nearly 
cutting  off  their  detachment  and  driving  them  at  last 
into  the  open  plains,  although  we  paid  dearly  for  it, 
losing  two  brave  officers,  Knowlton  and  Leitch.  But 
the  honor  of  Connecticut  was  redeemed. 


TJD/fVGS.  295 

It  was  upon  a  Saturday  night  late  in  September  that 
the  great  fire  broke  out  in  New  York  which  the  British 
laid  to  our  charge,  though  we  were  innocent,  and  lamented 
the  loss  and  suffering  in  the  devoted  town.  It  was  a  strange 
sight,  all  the  heavens  being  crimson  with  the  mighty  re 
flection,  and  the  American  camp  watched  through  the 
night  and  marvelled,  knowing  not  the  cause.  In  the 
morning  a  black  cloud  floated  where  there  had  been  flame, 
and  we  heard  the  tidings  from  the  British,  who  sent  out  a 
flag  in  the  morning  for  the  purpose  of  a  conference  in 
regard  to  the  exchange  of  prisoners,  which  both  sides 
desired.  Our  poor  men  captured  by  them  had  been 
crowded  into  the  sugar-houses  and  the  churches  of 
New  York,  and  in  the  great  heat  were  many  of  them 
in  sore  distress.  The  English  coming  to  confer  about 
the  exchange  told  us  that  a  mighty  fire  had  broken 
out  at  one  of  the  clock  that  morning,  and  they  hinted 
that  the  Whigs  were  the  incendiaries.  Indignant  as 
the  patriots  then  were  at  the  charge,  they  were  yet 
more  so  afterwards,  when  they  heard  that  the  Ministerial 
soldiers  had  been  cruel  to  many  poor  creatures ;  sus 
pecting  them  of  firing  the  town,  they  had  bayoneted 
them  and  cast  them  in  the  flames,  and  one  man  —  as  it 
happened,  a  good  Tory  —  they  did  hang  by  the  heels 
until  he  died.  It  is  thus  ever  in  great  excitement ; 
men's  passions  overleap  all  decency,  and  horrid  enor 
mities  are  committed  which  they  are  ashamed  to  father 
at  more  sober  moments.  The  damage  done  in  the 
city  had  been  very  great ;  the  fire  had  started  not 
far  below  the  Common,  upon  the  side  toward  the  Hud 
son,  and  had  burned  a  clean  path  across  to  the  East 
River,  above  the  Battery,  to  Whitehall's  Slip.  Trinity 
Church  was  gone,  but  Saint  Paul's  had  been  saved  by  the 
efforts  of  those  who  stood  upon  the  roof  and  threw  the 


296  A    YANKEE    VOLUNTEER. 

flaming  embers  from  it  as  they  fell.  Much  property 
had  gone,  and  many  of  the  poor  would  be  homeless, 
while  the  rich  had  suffered  greatly.  When  I  heard  it,  my 
first  anxiety  was  for  the  Waynes,  and  I  rejoiced  to  hear 
that  their  hospitable  roof  had  escaped  uninjured. 

One  good  was  achieved  by  the  conference  that  Sep 
tember  morning,  since  we  obtained  a  partial  exchange 
of  prisoners,  and  Lord  Stirling  was  among  them.  We 
were  again,  however,  at  a  crisis ;  the  eternal  question  of 
too  brief  enlistments  came  to  trouble  our  commander ; 
but  finally,  through  his  eloquent  persuasion,  Congress  at 
last  organized  the  army  upon  a  permanent  footing,  and 
one  besetting  evil  was  thus  partially  relieved.  Mean 
while  the  enemy  remained  strangely  inactive,  and  per 
plexed  us  much  to  endeavor  to  solve  their  intentions. 
One  thing  we  learned  too  easily,  and  that  was  the  large 
enlistments,  continually  swelling,  of  Tories  of  Long 
Island ;  one  De  Lancey,  a  New  York  royalist,  was  at 
Jamaica  on  the  island,  offering  the  king's  commission 
to  any  reputable  man  who  would  raise  a  regiment. 
These  Tories  were  indeed  our  most  vindictive  enemies, 
the  serpents  we  had  nourished  in  our  bosoms. 

Early  in  October  the  royal  ships,  three  in  number, 
the  Phoenix,  the  Roebuck,  and  the  Tartar,  which  had 
lain  opposite  Bloomingdale,  and  had  so  distressed  Gen 
eral  Putnam's  army,  got  under  sail  one  morning,  and  as 
cending  the  Hudson  carried  terror  and  confusion  with 
them  toward  the  Highlands.  Great  efforts  had  been 
made  to  bar  the  river  against  these  hostile  ships,  but 
they  passed  through  the  chevaux-de-frise  as  through  a 
cobweb,  and  sank  a  submarine  machine  which  lay  upon 
a  sloop  to  be  used  against  them.  Though  raked  by  our 
guns  upon  the  shore,  they  sailed  proudly  on  unharmed, 
spreading  terror  upon  the  country-side.  They  plun- 


TIDINGS.  297 

dered  our  stores  at  Dobbs'  Ferry  and  went  on  to  the 
Tappan  Zee.  Now  came  rumors  that  the  Tories  were 
arming  and  gathering  in  the  Highlands,  and  truly  we 
were  beset  on  every  hand. 

Happily,  I  was  recovered  sufficiently  from  my  wounds 
to  be  in  the  saddle  by  the  first  weeks  of  October.  Thank 
ful  was  I  to  be  once  more  at  liberty,  for  I  had  felt  my 
self  the  veriest  prisoner.  Now,  when  every  man  was 
needed,  it  was  a  grievous  thing  to  be  upon  the  sick- 
list.  I  was  cordially  and  kindly  received  at  headquar 
ters,  and  his  Excellency  said  a  few  kind  words  to  me 
that  were  the  more  esteemed  because  he  so  seldom  be 
stowed  commendation,  and  never  unless  he  believed  that 
it  was  merited. 

In  those  days  I  had  many  duties,  and  but  little  time 
for  any  thought  save  of  my  orders.  I  was  often  in  the 
saddle  for  the  greater  part  of  the  day,  although  my 
scarcely  healed  wounds  yet  troubled  me  a  little ;  but  the 
fresh  October  air  gave  me  new  life. 

One  errand  of  the  general's  carried  me  up  in  the 
Highlands.  Evading  the  Tappan  Zee,  where  lay  the 
king's  ships,  I  rode  along  the  shore  past  King's  Ferry 
and  Dunderberg  to  Fort  Clinton.  I  carried  a  message 
to  Colonel  James  Clinton,  and  my  business  kept  me  for 
a  day  or  more  in  the  midst  of  that  wild  and  splendid 
scenery.  Around  me,  the  gloomy  heights  loomed  in 
sad  magnificence,  the  glory  of  the  summer  departed 
from  them,  but  a  splendor,  as  of  flame,  upon  their 
slopes,  and  the  river  flowing  through  the  defiles  in 
quiet  beauty,  though  it  was  the  object  desired  by  two 
armies,  and  the  key,  as  it  seemed  to  us,  of  the  United 
Colonies. 

When  I  returned  to  our  lines  at  Harlem  Heights,  it 
was  evening,  and  I  paused  only  to  leave  my  horse  at  my 


298  A    YANKEE    VOLUNTEER, 

own  tent,  and  went  at  once  to  the  marquee  of  our  com 
mander,  where  I  found  him  and  General  Putnam  and 
young  Alexander  Hamilton.  In  this  presence  I  dis 
charged  my  errand  and  received  the  general's  acknowl 
edgments.  Excusing  myself  from  the  kind  invitation 
to  remain,  I  went  to  my  own  quarters,  tired,  and  feeling 
the  dull  ache  of  my  most  troublesome  wound.  But  I 
was  destined  to  find  tidings  there  that  would  arouse  me 
from  my  languor  and  give  me  a  new  interest.  Ephraim, 
whom  as  usual  I  had  left  in  charge  of  my  belongings, 
gave  me  a  letter  from  Dorothy  Wayne,  the  first  that  I 
had  ever  received  from  her,  and  I  was  not  a  little 
curious  of  its  contents.  It  was  but  a  few  lines,  how 
ever,  of  greeting,  and  then  these  words  that  made  the 
letter  beautiful  to  me,  — 

"  Miss  Joyce  Talbot  is  here.  She  and  her  mother  came, 
with  the  other  Tories,  from  Halifax,  and  they  are  lodged  in 
a  house  near  the  Battery  but  a  short  distance  from  the  Hud 
son.  More  I  know  not,  save  that  they  are  well,  and  in  the 
charge,  I  believe,  of  Mr.  Howe." 

Joyce  in  New  York  !  I  went  to  the  door  of  my  tent 
and  looked  out  into  the  darkness  and  watched  the  stars, 
rejoicing ;  yet  wherefore,  I  knew  not,  since  a  great  gulf 
was  still  set  between  us.  Yet  she  was  near  me,  no  longer 
in  Halifax,  and  surely,  I  reflected,  no  longer  beyond  my 
reach.  Already  a  vague  scheme  of  reaching  her  flashed 
upon  me,  and  I  had  no  other  thought  than  to  find  my 
opportunity.  No  blockade  was  ever  yet  effectual  against 
love's  devices,  and  I  was  determined  to  find  a  way,  hav 
ing  the  will  to  do  it.  I  questioned  Ephraim  sharply  as 
to  the  manner  of  the  coming  of  the  letter,  but  got  but 
little  satisfaction.  A  countryman  had  brought  it,  per 
mitted  to  leave  New  York  because  his  presence  was  not 
useful,  Ephraim  thought,  and  he  was  too  great  a  coward 


TIDINGS.  299 

to  be  impressed  into  the  service  upon  either  side.  After 
all,  it  mattered  little,  I  reflected,  since  I  had  the  letter,  and 
I  would  not  try  to  solve  the  problem.  Verily,  I  had  one 
more  knotty  of  my  own.  I  had  resolved  to  see  Joyce, 
and  to  see  her  as  soon  as  might  be,  for  when  did  love 
ever  suffer  a  delay?  At  first  I  thought  to  accomplish 
my  purpose  alone  and  unaided,  but  after  all  was  forced 
to  call  upon  the  faithful  and  resourceful  Ephraim  for  the 
means  to  achieve  it ;  and  he,  ever  ready  to  enter  upon 
any  enterprise,  was  not  behind  in  his  advice  and  aid. 
First,  we  schemed  to  enter  the  city  by  the  land  side, 
but  abandoned  this  as  impracticable,  in  face  of  the  senti 
nels  ;  the  approach  by  water  was  the  easier,  too,  and  Doro 
thy  Wayne  had  said  the  house  lay  near  the  Hudson  River. 
To  find  it  would  necessitate  a  visit  to  the  Waynes,  which 
increased  the  risks  ;  but  happily  this  was  adjusted,  since  I 
learned  from  a  prisoner  who  had  been  exchanged  where 
Captain  Talbot's  house  lay,  and  found  it  nearer  to  the 
water  than  I  had  hoped.  After  this,  our  arrangements 
went  on  merrily,  although  I  was  unwilling  to  let  Ephraim 
share  the  peril ;  yet  would  he  take  no  refusal,  and  since  he 
had  but  to  remain  in  the  boat,  I  at  last  consented.  I 
lacked  only  the  permission  for  my  absence  from  the 
camp,  and  this  was  not  so  easily  obtained.  However, 
leave  was  at  last  granted  upon  the  very  night  that  I 
would  have  chosen  above  all  others,  since  it  was  intensely 
dark  and  threatening,  but  it  stormed  not,  and  the  tide  was 
running  smooth,  so  that  a  dory  would  have  an  easy  course. 
Ephraim,  too,  was  in  the  humor  for  a  secret  enterprise, 
and  we  primed  our  weapons  cheerfully,  and  set  out,  like 
two  school-boys  that  were  bent  on  some  new  mischief. 
We  had  secured  a  stout  little  boat,  and  muffling  our  oars, 
we  dropped  down  the  river  silently  toward  the  town. 


CHAPTER  XXXVII. 

LOVE'S   ENTERPRISE. 

WE  pulled  down  the  Hudson,  keeping  a  little  from  the 
shore  that  our  boat  might  escape  the  vigilance  of  the 
sentries.  Our  muffled  oars  dipped  softly  in  the  water, 
and  in  the  stillness  we  could  hear  the  sounds  from  the 
shore.  We  passed  in  sight  of  Lispenard's  meadows,  and 
my  mind  went  back  to  the  scene  at  Corbie's  Tavern; 
from  there  the  row  down  to  Paulus  Hook  was  swift  and 
quiet,  and  then  we  drew  nearer  to  the  shore.  On  this 
side  the  great  fire  had  swept  the  town,  and  blackened 
ruins  lay  where  but  a  short  while  since  were  homes. 
Beyond  this  open  space  the  lights  burned  brightly  in 
the  windows  of  many  houses,  and  there  was  the  stir  of 
busy  life  in  the  distant  streets.  We  rowed  in  under  the 
shore  and  came  gently  down  toward  the  Battery ;  here 
was  the  house,  near  to  Kennedy's,  which  had  been  Gen 
eral  Putnam's  quarters.  In  the  rear  was  the  open  space, 
desolated  by  the  fire,  and  some  quiet  gardens  behind 
dwellings  that  yet  remained.  The  spot  was  favorable 
for  any  daring  project,  and  we  two  conspirators  sat  for  a 
while  in  our  boat  and  listened.  But  we  had  aroused  no 
one ;  no  figure  moved  upon  the  bank,  no  sentinel's  shrill 
call  was  heard.  Satisfied  that  we  were  undiscovered,  I 
felt  for  my  weapon,  and  bidding  Ephraim  watch  for  my 
first  signal,  left  him  in  the  boat  and  leaped  upon  the 
shore.  Once  there,  I  felt  that  the  chances  of  discovery 
were  far  less,  in  the  dark  night,  and  following  the  di- 


LOVE'S  ENTERPRISE.  30 1 

rections  that  I  had  received,  I  walked  in  the  direction  of 
the  Battery,  until  I  came  to  the  house  that  had  been  des 
ignated.  Here  I  found  a  large  garden  surrounded  by  a 
low  wall,  over  which  I  swung  myself  with  ease,  and  tread 
ing  softly  amid  the  fallen  leaves,  made  my  way  toward  the 
windows  in  the  rear.  On  one  side  the  house  was  dark  ; 
upon  the  other,  happily  the  side  upon  the  garden,  the 
windows  were  lighted,  and  two  of  them  were  open.  I 
remember  that  I  stumbled  once  or  twice  in  the  strange 
place,  and  thought,  at  the  moment,  that  if  Laddie  was 
with  them  I  was  betrayed.  In  this  respect,  however, 
fortune  favored  me,  for  the  dog  was  out  upon  the  streets 
with  Dick,  as  I  afterwards  learned.  A  late  rose  was 
blooming  by  the  window  I  approached,  and  the  delicate 
fragrance  made  the  night  air  sweet.  The  window-sill 
was  low,  and,  standing  back  that  no  gleam  of  light 
might  shine  upon  my  face,  I  looked  eagerly  into  the 
room,  being  sharply  disappointed  to  find  it  vacant. 
Low-ceiled  and  wainscoted  with  mahogany,  the  room  was 
plain  and  dull,  yet  something  in  its  appearance  seemed 
familiar,  —  an  atmosphere  of  home  that  I  recognized  in 
tuitively,  and  I  felt  that  I  had  made  no  error;  on  the 
table,  too,  stood  a  tall  vase  full  of  late  roses  and  some 
sprays  of  mignonette,  an  open  book  beside  it,  and  around 
being  other  signs  of  recent  occupation.  Presently  I  was 
conscious  of  the  sound  of  voices  coming  from  the  room 
beyond,  the  door  of  which  stood  open.  While  I  was 
endeavoring  to  recognize  the  tones,  they  drew  nearer, 
and  two  figures  emerged  from  the  doorway.  The  first  was 
Joyce,  and  the  last  I  knew  with  quick  resentment ;  it  was 
Beresford.  I  looked  eagerly  at  my  love,  and  saw  no 
change ;  her  face  was  as  lovely  as  it  had  been  when  we 
parted,  but  she  was  far  more  elaborately  attired.  Her  pow 
dered  hair  was  arranged  with  flowers,  and  her  white  neck 


302  A    YANKEE    VOLUNTEER. 

was  bare,  looking  yet  more  white  by  contrast  with  her 
black  frock  and  the  black  ribbon  fastened  around  her  full 
white  throat.  There  was  a  flush  of  color  on  her  cheeks, 
and  her  blue  eyes  sparkled,  I  thought  with  anger,  as  she 
moved  across  the  room  and  paused  beside  the  table. 
It  was  evident  that  Beresford  had  been  lately  upon 
duty,  for  he  wore  his  uniform,  and  his  sword  hung  at 
his  side.  His  whole  appearance  was,  as  ever,  that  of  a 
young  dandy,  from  his  faultlessly  powdered  hair  to  his 
polished  weapon  and  shining  epaulettes ;  his  scarlet  coat 
was  dazzling,  by  contrast,  in  the  quiet  room  ;  in  my  heart, 
I  was  forced  to  acknowledge  that  he  held  himself  well 
and  was  every  inch  a  soldier.  His  features  were  clear- 
cut  and  good  to  look  upon,  and  I  watched  him  follow 
Joyce  with  a  sharp  pang  of  jealousy  and  anger.  In  my 
eagerness  I  forgot  that  I  seemed  but  a  spy  and  eaves 
dropper,  and  stood  there  for  a  brief  space,  too  angry 
and  too  much  surprised  to  recollect  the  meanness  of 
such  a  position.  Joyce  paused  at  the  table,  and  draw 
ing  a  rose  from  the  vase  stood  looking  at  it  absently,  her 
nervous  fingers  caressing  its  creamy  petals  all  uncon 
sciously.  Beresford,  approaching  the  table  also,  watched 
her  a  little  time  in  silence  ;  then  I  saw  him  smile,  although 
she  did  not,  and  I  hated  him  the  more  for  the  assurance 
of  that  smile. 

"  Miss  Talbot,"  he  said  softly,  but  not  so  low  that  my 
jealous  ears  did  not  catch  the  words,  "  have  you  no 
answer?  Surely,  I  have  a  right  to  look  for  one.  I  have 
endured  with  patience,  and  you  have  known  that  I  loved 
you  !  " 

She  spoke  not,  but  stood  frowning  at  the  rose,  and  I 
saw  her  fingers  tremble. 

"Joyce,"  he  said  with  more  confidence,  —  nay,  I 
thought  impertinence,  —  "  Joyce,  I  love  you  !  " 


LOVE'S  ENTERPRISE.  303 

And  with  this  he  tried  to  take  her  hand,  and  I  put 
my  foot  upon  the  outer  edge  of  the  window-sill.  But 
she  drew  back  and  looked  at  him  defiantly,  her  blue  eyes 
bright,  I  hoped  with  anger. 

"  You  have  had  my  answer,  Mr.  Beresford,"  she  said. 

"  Think  better  of  it,  Joyce,"  he  replied  with  an  air  of 
unbelief  in  her  sincerity.  "  I  do  not  think  you  mean  to 
send  me  away  now  !  " 

"  What  do  you  think,  then?"  she  asked  haughtily,  a 
bright  color  in  her  cheeks. 

"  I  will  not  believe  that  you  still  care  for  that  renegade 
Yankee,"  he  said  contemptuously,  "  that  you  will  slight 
the  king's  soldier  for  a  rebel !  " 

"  You  know  little  of  my  thoughts,"  she  answered 
lightly  ;  "  it  may  be  that  I,  too,  am  a  rebel." 

"  Nay,"  he  said,  "  you  have  a  woman's  heart  and  you 
will  forget  a  childish  fancy,  long  since  outgrown.  What 
is  this  Yankee  ?  A  rebel,  a  canting  hypocrite,  a  coward 
who  dare  not  return  to  win  you  !  He  dare  not  face  me, 
this  lover  of  yours,  this  Allen  —  " 

"  The  Yankee  Allen  is  at  your  service,  sir  !  "  I  cried, 
springing  into  the  room  and  casting  my  hat  upon  the 
floor. 

Joyce  cried  out  with  surprise  and  terror,  while  Beres 
ford  half  bared  his  sword.  I  glanced  from  one  to  the 
other  in  silence,  and  my  heart  burned  within  me,  for  I 
was  blind  with  jealousy  and  anger.  Joyce  stood  with 
her  clasped  hands  pressed  against  her  breast,  and  her 
startled  eyes  upon  my  face,  only  half  believing  that  she 
saw  me,  and  not  a  vision  ;  while  Beresford,  no  less  aston 
ished,  stared  at  me  in  bewilderment,  his  taunt  silenced 
upon  his  lips.  I  took  no  heed  of  him,  but  addressed 
myself  to  her,  and  I  fear  that  my  voice  as  well  as  my 
words  were  harsh. 


304  A    YANKEE    VOLUNTEER. 

"  I  seem  an  unwelcome  as  well  as  an  unlooked-for 
guest  here,  Miss  Talbot,"  I  said,  laughing  bitterly,  "  and 
yet  —  your  friend  but  now  was  eager  to  conjure  up  a 
rebel  visitor." 

"  A  rebel  eavesdropper  !  "  retorted  Beresford,  with  a 
scornful  accent ;  "  truly,  your  occupation,  sir,  befits  your 
calling." 

My  face  burned  as  with  fire,  and  involuntarily  my  hand 
went  to  my  sword. 

"  You  lie,  sir  !  "  I  retorted  hotly,  "  and  elsewhere  you 
would  answer  for  it." 

"  That  may  be,"  he  replied  tauntingly.  "  But  I  fancy 
your  courage  is  greatest  in  the  presence  of  a  woman ;  it 
is  ever  so  with  spies  and  cowards." 

"  Now,  by  Heaven  !  "  I  cried  passionately,  "  you  shall 
find  yourself  mistaken  to  your  sorrow." 

Joyce,  recovering  from  the  shock  of  her  surprise, 
moved  between  us. 

"  Hush  !  "  she  said  imperatively ;  "  you  are  both  brave 
men,  and  it  is  a  shame  upon  you  to  so  insult  each  other. 
This  is  my  house,  and  I  forbid  it !  Mr.  Beresford,  this  is 
an  honest  and  a  gallant  gentleman,  and  I  am  willing  to 
pledge  my  faith  that,  however  he  came  here  to-night,  it 
was  not  as  a  spy." 

Beresford  bowed  gravely  to  her,  but  his  eyes  were 
hard. 

"  I  would  take  your  word  against  the  world,  Miss 
Talbot,"  he  said  courteously,  '•'  and  I  doubt  not  that 
there  was  an  ample  excuse  for  Mr.  Allen's  presence  in 
your  garden.  I  can  easily  pardon  any  man  for  the 
desire  to  see  you." 

At  this,  Joyce's  face  flamed  red  as  mine,  but  she  made 
him  a  little  curtsy.  Then  she  turned  to  me,  and  her 
blue  eyes  searched  my  face  with  sharp  anxiety. 


LOVE'S  ENTERPRISE.  305 

"  And  you,"  she  said,  and  my  quick  ear  caught  the 
quiver  in  her  voice,  "  for  old  friendship's  sake  I  can  de 
mand  that  you  quarrel  not  with  any  one  beneath  my 
roof." 

"  A  hard  condition,  madam,"  Beresford  remarked, 
smiling  bitterly,  "  considering  the  relation  in  which  Mr. 
Allen  and  I  stand  to  each  other." 

She  turned  upon  him  quickly,  and  I  saw  all  the  color 
leave  her  cheeks. 

"  Nay,"  she  said  in  a  low  voice ;  "  a  reproach  is  un 
worthy  of  you,  Mr.  Beresford,  since  he  is  in  your  power." 

Then  I  understood  her  great  agitation,  and  started  at 
the  thought  that  she  was  interceding  for  my  safety. 

"That  concerns  you  not,"  I  said  to  her  hastily.  "I 
am  able  to  fight  my  own  battles  and  to  bear  the  conse 
quences  of  my  acts." 

But  Beresford  heeded  me  not ;  he  was  looking  at  her 
excited  face  and  quivering  hands. 

"  Have  no  fear,  Miss  Talbot,"  he  said  coldly.  ^"  As  I 
understand  it,  Mr.  Allen's  errand  here  is  only  to  see  old 
friends  and  of  a  private  nature,  and  if  he  can  so  assure 
me,  he  is  safe  to  speedily  depart." 

"  I  will  make  no  explanation  to  you,  sir,"  1  retorted 
proudly ;  "  my  errand  was  honorable,  and  I  am  no  spy  to 
give  an  account  to  you  or  any  one." 

He  looked  at  me  and  smiled  coldly,  but  Joyce  stepped 
between. 

"  He  came  to  see  me  !  "  she  cried,  her  voice  thrilling 
with  emotion,  "  and  he  is  in  your  hands  ;  you  cannot  — 
you  shall  not  betray  him  !  " 

"  I  am  a  British  officer,  Miss  Talbot,"  Beresford  re 
plied  proudly,  "  and  you  have  trusted  me ;  you  may 
rely  upon  my  honor.  I  have  never  yet  stooped  to  the 
office  of  an  informer." 

20 


306  A    YANKEE    VOLUNTEER. 

"  I  thank  you,"  she  said  in  a  low  voice,  "  from  my 
heart !  " 

Now  this  was  more  than  I  could  bear :  the  fellow  was 
winning  her  gratitude. 

"There  is  no  need  for  your  intercession,"  I  said  bit 
terly  ;  "  I  am  quite  ready  to  abide  the  consequence.  Mr. 
Beresford's  generosity  is  not  acceptable." 

"  For  shame  !  "  she  whispered  with  a  reproachful 
glance ;  "  I  thought  you  more  generous,  more  just !  " 

"  My  presence  destroys  Mr.  Allen's  courtesy,"  Beres- 
ford  said  in  a  scornful  tone  ;  he  was  furious  at  the  sight 
of  her  friendship  for  me.  "  Miss  Talbot,  I  bid  you  both 
good  evening,  and  I  only  desire  to  warn  your  friend 
that  a  lengthy  stay  in  the  town  may  be  attended  with 
evil  consequences,  despite  my  forbearance." 

"  1  thank  you,  sir,"  I  retorted  coldly ;  "  I  am  content 
to  run  my  own  risks,  nor  do  I  so  greatly  fear  the  dangers 
here." 

"  I  congratulate  you,  sir,  upon  your  courage  and  the 
warmth  of  your  welcome,"  he  replied  with  an  angry 
glance,  and  then  bowing  to  us  both,  he  turned  on  his 
heel  and  left  the  room. 


CHAPTER  XXXVIII. 

A    LOVERS'    QUARREL. 

As*  the  door  closed  behind  Beresford,  Joyce  turned 
to  me. 

"  Oh,  John  ! "  she  cried,  "  how  came  you  here,  in 
the  midst  of  such  peril  ?  " 

I  looked  at  her  with  jealousy  burning  at  my  heart,  and 
something  in  my  glance  arrested  her  approach  and  she 
stood  regarding  me  with  startled  eyes. 

"  I  came  to  see  you,  Joyce,"  I  said  coldly,  "  and  had 
no  thought  of  finding  you  so  pleasantly  entertained. 
I  do  assure  you  that  I  did  not  come  to  play  a  spy 
upon  you." 

She  looked  at  me  with  passionate  reproach  in  her 
blue  eyes. 

"  Do  you  think  so  ill  of  me  as  to  imagine  that  I  would 
believe  you  capable  of  such  conduct?"  she  exclaimed; 
"  if  you  have  a  bad  opinion  of  me,  I  have  not  lost  my 
trust  in  you  !  " 

But  even  this  did  not  melt  my  mood ;  love's  besetting 
sin  being  ever  jealousy. 

"My  opinion  is  not  ill  of  you,"  I  answered  bitterly; 
"  it  is  rather  higher,  in  that  I  appreciate  your  ready 
wit  in  adapting  yourself  to  the  circumstances  and  find 
ing  a  lover  always  on  the  winning  side." 

At  this,  the  color  came  into  her  cheeks  and  her 
eyes  sparkled  with  their  old  spirit. 


3O8  A    YANKEE    VOLUNTEER. 

"  Verily,"  she  retorted  quickly,  "  I  might  readily  find 
a  kinder  visitor ;  did  you  come  here,  at  the  peril  of  your 
life,  to  reproach  me  unjustly  and  without  reason?" 

"  Nay,"  I  said  sadly,  "  I  came  to  see  the  woman  I 
love  and  found  her  —  listening  to  the  wooing  of  another 
man,  and  that  man  my  enemy." 

Her  temper,  ever  as  quick  as  a  flash  in  straw,  fired  at 
my  words,  and  she  stood  tapping  the  floor  with  her 
impatient  little  foot,  but  gave  me  no  answer  save  a 
glance  that  was  more  full  of  significance  than  words. 
But  I  was  angry,  and  stung  with  disappointment,  and 
would  speak  my  mind. 

"  When  we  parted  at  Marblehead,"  I  said  reproach 
fully,  "  it  was  as  lovers  part  —  yet  you  told  me  nothing 
of  your  intended  flight ;  you  left  me  without  a  word  or 
sign,  but  I  loved  you  well  enough  to  believe  that  this 
was  no  fault  of  yours.  When  you  came  here,  too,  it  was 
not  you  who  sent  me  word,  but  a  stranger  —  a  new 
friend—" 

"  Ay,  a  woman  !  "  she  flashed  out  so  suddenly  that 
I  started.  "  I  know  who  told  you ;  it  -was  your  friend 
Dorothy  Wayne.  I  have  heard  it  said  that  you  were 
head  over  ears  in  love  with  her." 

Now  was  it  my  turn  to  gaze  at  her  in  amazement ; 
I,  who  had  never  been  charged  with  a  lack  of  faithful 
ness,  was  utterly  confounded  by  the  suddenness  and 
novelty  of  the  attack. 

"In  love  with  Dorothy?"  I  repeated  slowly;  "  I  am 
at  a  loss  to  understand  such  an  accusation." 

She  darted  an  indignant  glance  at  me. 

"  It  is  well,"  she  said  scornfully,  "  to  assume  ignorance, 
but  from  all  I  hear  you  were  neither  so  dull  nor  so 
backward  with  Miss  Wayne." 

"  Doubtless  this  man,  Beresford,  has  been  filling  your 


A   LOVERS'   QUARREL.  309 

ears  with  idle  nonsense,"  I  said  with  rising  anger;  "I 
in  love  with  Dorothy  !  It  is  absurd." 

"Others  do  not  think  it  so,"  she  answered  coldly, 
averting  her  face.  "  I  congratulate  you  upon  your 
choice ;  I  have  seen  her,  and  she  is  a  lovely  woman." 

"She  is  indeed,"  I  replied,  with  more  haste  than 
thought,  "  and  too  wise  to  falsely  accuse  a  man  who 
loved  her,  of  disloyalty." 

"  I  trust  then,"  she  said  in  a  strange  voice,  "  that  you 
will  not  constantly  accuse  her  of  a  breach  of  faith  !  " 

Suddenly  I  saw  how  my  jealousy  had  betrayed  me 
into  forgetfulness  of  justice,  and  my  heart  reproached 
me ;  but  we  were  both  angry  still. 

"  I  cannot  fancy  Miss  Wayne  playing  the  coquette," 
I  said  with  truthfulness. 

"Why  don't  you  go  to  this  paragon?"  cried  Joyce, 
suddenly  stamping  her  foot  at  me,  her  face  crimson  with 
emotion  ;  "  why  do  you  come  here  at  all  ?  " 

"  I  came,"  I  said  slowly,  "  because  I  loved  you  — 
I  have  ever  loved  you,  but  I  see  that  you  have  no  real 
love  for  me." 

"  Nay,"  she  answered  proudly,  "  you  loved  me  once, 
perhaps ;  but  now  it  is  this  other  woman,  and  I  have 
pride  enough,  thank  Heaven,  to  want  no  other  woman's 
lover?  Therefore,  go  !  " 

She  was  looking  at  me  with  shining  eyes,  her  little 
hands  clenched  at  her  sides  and  her  head  thrown  back. 
I  remembered  her  in  just  such  an  attitude  in  her  child- 
hpod,  when  she  had  been  intensely  angry  at  Dick  and 
me  over  some  childish  quarrel  and  had  turned  upon 
us  like  a  little  fury.  But  her  words  stung  me  like  a 
whip. 

"  If  you  wish  me  to  go,"  I  said  quietly,  "  I  will  obey 
you." 


310  A    YANKEE    VOLUNTEER. 

"  I  have  said  so,"  she  cried  passionately ;  "  go  to 
Dorothy  Wayne  !  " 

"  Not  to  her,"  I  replied  with  dignity,  "  for  I  do  not 
love  her  —  but  to  return  to  the  camp  at  Harlem,  and 
there  to  remember  that  I  have  lost  my  love  forever ! 
Farewell,  Joyce." 

She  said  nothing,  and  I  turned  and  walked  slowly  to 
the  window ;  my  jealousy  was  passing  away  in  the  sharp 
pain  I  felt  at  her  words.  I  had  my  foot  upon  the  sill, 
when,  turning  once  more,  I  saw  her  with  her  face  hidden 
in  her  hands.  I  hesitated,  and  in  the  pause  heard  her 
sobs.  In  a  moment  I  had  sprung  across  the  room  to 
her  side,  and  found  that  she  was  weeping  bitterly. 

"  Joyce  !  "  I  cried,  "  is  it  possible  that  you  care?  " 

"Oh!"  she  said  between  her  sobs,  "you — you  are 
a  brute  !  " 

At  this,  I  took  her  in  my  arms,  in  spite  of  her  resist 
ance,  and  tried  to  kiss  away  her  tears ;  but  she  had 
broken  down  completely  and  lay  weeping  on  my  shoulder 
like  a  child. 

"  My  darling,"  I  said,  "  why  is  it  that  we  always 
quarrel?  Is  it  indeed  true  that  you  love  me  and  not 
that  gay  officer?  " 

"You  do  not  deserve  it,"  she  moaned  ;  "you  are  the 
most  jealous,  dull,  provoking  man  that  ever  breathed, 
and  yet  "  —  here  she  sobbed  again  —  "I  am  such  a 
fool,"  she  said,  "that  I  love  you  still." 

Now,  I  was  so  rejoiced  at  her  words  that  I  forgot  to 
be  angry  at  her  own  provoking  ways.  For  the  moment 
I  did  nothing  but  stroke  her  hair  and  kiss  her,  while 
I  tried  to  assure  her  of  my  own  loyalty  and  devotion, 
which  I  think  she  had  never  really  doubted,  though  she 
retaliated  because  of  my  own  persistent  reproaches. 
So  it  was  that  we  made  peace,  and  she  found  time  to 


A   LOVERS'  QUARREL.  311 

look  at  my  face  and  see  the  signs  of  illness  from  my 
recent  wounds.  And  she  caressed  me  and  fretted  over 
the  hollows  in  my  cheeks,  and  told  me  penitently  now 
of  how  she  had  heard  of  Dorothy  Wayne's  care  of  me 
and  been  wicked  enough  to  be  jealous,  because  any 
woman  had,  even  for  a  season,  usurped  her  place.  At 
which  I  told  her  that  I  had  sung  her  praises  to  Dorothy 
until  I  was  sure  that  she  wearied  of  me  as  a  dull  fellow 
with  no  thought  but  of  my  love. 

Joyce  told  me,  after  this,  of  Dorothy's  visit  to  her, 
and  how  sweetly  she  had  spoken  of  my  desire  that  they 
should  be  friends,  having  tried,  too,  to  be  kind  to  my 
little  sweetheart,  receiving  however,  I  fancied,  but  small 
encouragement.  Joyce  told  me,  also,  of  their  sudden 
departure  from  Marblehead  ;  how  Dick  had  come  for 
them  in  disguise,  urging  their  immediate  flight,  and  she 
had  been  forced  to  go  without  finding  a  safe  messenger 
to  bear  the  tidings  to  me.  I  heard,  too,  of  their  stay  at 
Halifax,  and  of  Dick's  duel  which  had  brought  him  under 
Sir  William  Howe's  displeasure,  and  now  he  was  treated 
with  less  consideration  than  formerly,  and  had  been 
passed  by  in  the  orders  of  promotion,  though  serving  as 
bravely  as  the  others  who  were  advanced  before  him. 
All  this  fretted  the  hot  Talbot  temper,  and  Dick  disliked, 
too,  the  thought  of  the  Hessians  being  hired  to  fight 
against  the  king's  own  subjects ;  so,  as  Joyce  told  me, 
they  were  not  in  favor  at  headquarters,  and  were  often 
made  uneasy  by  Dick's  disposition  to  quarrel  with  his 
superiors.  Lady  Talbot  had  been  unwell,  and  this  had 
increased  Joyce's  responsibility,  so  my  reproaches  had 
found  her  in  no  mood  to  endure  them.  All  this  she 
told  me,  and  much  more,  while  we  sat  there  for  one  brief, 
happy  hour,  forgetful  of  everything  but  our  love  for  each 
other.  But  after  a  while  we  remembered  the  inevitable 


312  A    YANKEE    VOLUNTEER. 

parting ;  the  clock  struck  in  the  hall,  and  I  thought,  with 
a  pang  of  self-reproach,  of  poor  Ephraim  sitting  in  the 
open  boat  by  the  bank,  in  imminent  peril  of  discovery. 
Yet  I  lingered,  happy  in  the  sight  of  her  sweet  face  and 
the  tenderness  in  her  blue  eyes,  since  for  this  hour  she 
was  the  Joyce  of  old  days  and  h.id  no  thought  of  king 
or  rebel  —  happily,  save  one.  The  softness  of  her  mood 
told  me,  more  plainly  than  words,  how  glad  she  was  to 
see  me  again,  and  I  forgot  my  duty  and  poor  Minot's 
patient  danger,  to  stay  beside  her  and  to  feel  her  warm 
soft  cheek  against  my  own.  Lovers  are  ever  selfish,  so 
it  seems  to  me ;  yet,  since  love  is  like  to  suffer  much,  it 
has  also  some  right  to  be  happy  while  it  may,  in  this 
thorny  world.  But  the  hour  of  parting  approached  but 
too  swiftly,  and  I  could  count  the  minutes  in  the  beating 
of  my  heart. 

"Joyce,"  I  whispered,  "you  can  quarrel  with  me  no 
more  forever !  Not  even  the  king  shall  come  between 
us  again." 

Whereat  she  smiled  up  at  me  saucily,  and  shook  her 
finger  at  me. 

"  You  are  a  rebel,  sir,"  she  said,  with  an  attempt  at 
sternness  which  failed,  for  the  dimple  came  in  her  cheek 
again.  "  I  feel  that  it  is  against  my  allegiance  to  love 
you,  yet  I  am  wicked  enough  to  do  it." 

"  You  said  a  little  while  ago  that  you  were  a  fool  to 
love  me,"  I  remarked  playfully,  "  and  now  you  are 
wicked.  It  may  be  a  sin,  but,  happily,  I  love  the  sinner 
too  well  to  see  it  in  that  light.  But  truly,  Joyce,  we  will 
not  let  this  wretched  difference  between  your  family  and 
mine  destroy  our  happiness;  this  must  end  —  it  shall 
end,  at  last." 

But  her  face  had  grown  serious  at  the  thought  of  all 
our  difficulties,  and  she  shook  her  head. 


A   LOVERS'   QUARREL.  313 

"Alas  !  "  she  said  softly,  persuasively,  "if  you  were  but 
of  our  opinion,  all  would  be  well." 

"  And  that  I  cannot  be,  dear  heart,"  I  answered  ten 
derly  ;  "  you  love  me,  but  I  am  a  rebel  still ! " 

She  smiled  a  little,  but  sighed  too. 

"  In  the  old  days,"  she  said,  "  the  good  old  days,  a 
knight  would  fight  for  the  lady  of  his  love ;  but  you  — 
you  are  so  matter  of  fact  that  you  will  even  draw  the 
sword  against  my  king  and  yours.  I  fear  that  no  knight- 
errant  could  have  won  his  love  in  such  a  fashion." 

" '  I  could  not  love  thee,  dear,  so  much,' "  I  quoted 
softly,  from  the  old  song,  "  « loved  I  not  honor  more.'  " 

"  And  I,"  she  said  thoughtfully,  stroking  the  buff 
facings  of  my  coat  and  glancing  at  my  sword,  "I  —  a 
Talbot  —  love  the  king's  rebel.  '  Thy  glory  has  de 
parted,  Israel ! '  " 

"  Nay,"  I  said  proudly,  "  you  love  a  patriot,  and  pres 
ently  you  shall  not  be  ashamed  to  own  it !  " 

She  clung  to  me  with  tears  in  her  eyes ;  never  had  I 
seen  her  in  so  tender  a  mood. 

"  Do  you  think  I  am  ashamed  of  you  ?  "  she  said  in 
a  low  voice  ;  "  nay,  sir,  I  am  proud  of  you  —  and  I  have 
ever  been  so  ! " 

"  Oh,  Joyce  !  "  I  cried  gladly,  "  and  you  have  called  me 
'  rebel,'  '  traitor,'  '  turncoat '  —  I  know  not  what." 

"Ay,"  she  said,  smiling  through  her  tears,  "and  all 
the_while  I  loved  you  !  " 

Almost  as  she  spoke,  we  heard  the  outer  door  open 
with  much  noise  and  the  sound  of  voices  in  the  hall. 
The  next  moment,  Laddie  came  bounding  in  the  room, 
and  sprang  upon  us  both  in  the  abandon  of  joyful  greet 
ing  ;  but  Joyce  was  filled  with  alarm. 

"  It  is  Dick,"  she  whispered,  "  and,  no  doubt,  some  of 
the  officers  with  him  —  if  they  come  here  —  " 


314  A    YANKEE    VOLUNTEER. 

She  paused  and  held  my  arm  in  her  two  hands,  trem 
bling  and  listening.  "  If  they  find  you,"  she  said  wildly, 
"  they  will  call  you  a  spy  !  " 

We  heard  them  cross  the  hall  and  go  into  a  room 
upon  the  further  side,  and  then  she  pushed  me  toward 
the  window. 

"  Go,  go  !  "  she  cried  softly,  "  now  is  the  chance.  Oh, 
John,  we  have  done  wrong  to  linger  —  there  may  be  an 
orderly  in  the  garden  —  anywhere  !  " 

"Fear  not  for  me,  my  darling,"  I  said  tenderly,  "all 
will  go  well  —  and  I  would  risk  more  to  see  you." 

But  she  was  too  alarmed  at  the  thought  of  my  danger 
to  do  more  than  cling  to  me  with  her  face  white  and 
her  lips  quivering. 

"  I  will  go  with  you  through  the  garden,"  she  cried ; 
"  at  least,  so  far  I  may  protect  you." 

If  I  had  had  the  heart  I  could  have  laughed  at  the 
thought  of  her  as  a  protector,  but  now  I  only  kissed 
her  for  the  last  time  and  sprang  out  into  the  night. 
As  I  did  so,  the  door  opened  at  the  end  of  the  room 
and  I  saw  Dick  and  another  officer  upon  the  thresh 
old.  I  paused  an  instant  to  observe  how  poor  Joyce 
would  meet  this  new  danger,  fearing  that  she  would 
break  down  at  the  ordeal.  But  her  natural  spirit  was 
aroused,  and  recognizing  my  peril,  she  turned  from  the 
window;  I  saw  her  go  forward  to  greet  them  calmly, 

and  was  proud  of  her  in  that  moment  of  peril.     For  a 
1  A 

few  brief  moments  I  watched  her  standing  there  talk 
ing  with  the  stranger ;  then  seeing  Dick  come  slowly 
toward  the  window,  I  turned,  and  walking  rapidly  down 
the  garden,  vaulted  over  the  low  wall,  plunging  into 
the  darkness  beyond,  and  for  the  first  time  felt  the 
soft  rain  beating  on  my  face. 


CHAFFER   XXXIX. 

A    YOUNG   TURNCOAT. 

AFTER  leaping  the  wall,  I  made  my  way  more  slowly, 
for  here,  upon  the  river  bank,  I  ran  the  risk  of  meeting 
a  sentry.  The  darkness  and  the  rain,  however,  both 
stood  me  in  good  stead,  although  I  came  near  an  en 
counter  with  a  party  of  three  or  four  soldiers  who  were 
lounging  in  the  way.  Happily,  I  heard  their  voices  in 
time  to  shrink  back  in  the  shadow  of  a  friendly  wall,  a 
fragment  left  standing  from  the  great  fire  which  had 
wasted  this  quarter  to  the  water's  edge.  Afterwards, 
from  this  point  upwards  past  Paulus  Hook,  they  had 
tents  for  the  soldiers  and  others  of  the  lower  classes, 
and  it  was  known  as  "  Canvas  Town ;  "  ,a  pestilent  nest 
of  riot  was  it,  and  all  disorders  festered  here,  like  a  sore 
in  the  municipal  body.  But,  as  ever,  I  tell  two  stories 
rather  than  one.  I  passed  these  idle  fellows  safely,  and 
descending  the  bank  with  caution,  looked  about  for 
some  time  in  the  darkness  without  seeing  my  boat,  nor 
did  I  hear  the  slightest  sound  below  me,  but  the  soft 
lapping  of  the  tide.  I  whistled  gently  the  old  tune, 
"The  Echoing  Horn,"  and  was  presently  relieved  by 
an  answering  note  upon  the  water.  Then,  even  in  the 
blackness,  which  hung  about  us  like  a  cloak,  I  per 
ceived  the  vague  outlines  of  the  dory  coming  in.  The 
next  moment  it  was  alongside,  and  I  stepped  into  it, 
and  grasping  the  other  set  of  oars,  helped  Minot  pull 
away  from  shore.  In  view  of  the  risk  we  ran,  we  had 


3l6  A    YANKEE    VOLUNTEER. 

cause  to  be  thankful  for  the  ease  with  which  we  escaped, 
and  both  breathed  more  freely  when  we  had  rowed  out 
a  little  way  into  the  stream  and  turned  the  bow  toward 
Harlem.  The  rain  was  falling  fast,  and  my  heart  smote 
me  for  having  left  my  "faithful  friend  so  long  exposed 
to  danger  and  discomfort.  I  asked  his  forgiveness  the' 
more  heartily  because  I  was  happy,  and  love  in  its 
blissful  moments  would  be  at  peace  with  all  the  world. 

"  You  had  left  the  shore,  Minot,"  I  added ;  "  were 
there  any  signs  of  watchfulness  upon  this  side?" 

"Well,  not  that  I  can  say  so,  captain,"  Ephraim 
replied,  in  his  leisurely  tone ;  "  to  tell  you  the  truth,  I 
fell  asleep  after  you  had  been  gone  a  spell,  and  I  can 
not  rightly  say  what  happened  then." 

"  Asleep  at  your  post,"  I  said,  smiling ;  "  that  might 
have  proved  a  grievous  matter  for  you." 

"  It  might  have,"  he  admitted  calmly,  "  but  it  did  n't. 
I  woke  up  all  to  once  and  heard  voices  above  me,  talk 
ing  about  some  strange  noise  that  had  reached  their 
ears.  As  soon  as  they  went  away,  whoever  they  were, 
I  pulled  out  a  bit  so  that  there  should  be  no  more 
chance  to  find  me  at  such  close  quarters." 

"  Mayhap  they  heard  us  land,"  I  said  thoughtfully. 

"  Maybe,"  he  admitted,  "  and  maybe  not.  I  can't 
say,  but  I  did  think  that  they  might  have  heard  me 
snoring.  I  remember,  when  I  was  out  in  the  forests  — 
way  off  by  the  Ohio  —  and  there  was  one  of  those 
trapper  fellows  with  me,  we  used  to  sleep  right  on  the 
ground  at  night.  The  Indians  and  the  wild  animals, 
they  were  all  about  us,  thick  as  crows  in  a  cornfield, 
and  the  first  time  we  slept  so,  the  trapper  got  up  and 
took  his  gun  and  began  to  look  for  a  beast  in  the 
thicket.  After  a  while,  come  to  find  out,  it  was  me 
sleeping  a  little  heavy ;  it  may  be  that  was  what  these 


A    YOUNG    TURNCOAT.  317 

lobster  backs  heard  to-night,  I  can't  say  that  it 
was  n't." 

"  I  am  sorry,  Ephraim,"  I  said  penitently,  "  that  I 
kept  you  so  long  waiting,  but,  at  least,  you  were  not 
anxious  for  me." 

"  No,"  he  replied  calmly,  "  I  thought  you  would  get 
through  safe  and,  at  any  rate,  it  would  n't  help  to  fret 
about  you.  If  they  were  going  to  catch  you,  they 
would,  and  I  could  never  help  it  in  the  world ;  so  I 
slept  a  bit,  and  all  went  well  at  last." 

We  pulled  slowly  and  wearily  up  the  Hudson,  and 
so  came  to  our  journey's  end  in  safety,  reporting  for 
duty  in  the  morning  with  no  sign  of  our  late  visit  to  the 
heart  of  the  enemy's  camp.  Only  General  Putnam 
laughed  a  little  when  I  told  him  of  the  ease  with  which 
I  had  accomplished  my  purpose,  and  his  answer  was 
that  love  would  ever  find  out  a  way.  It  was  the  ease 
with  which  I  had  entered  the  town  that  led  afterwards 
to  the  scheme  to  capture  Sir  Henry  Clinton,  when  he 
lodged  in  the  same  quarter  at  Kennedy's  house.  This 
project  was,  however,  never  executed,  because  Colonel 
Hamilton  argued  that  we  would  but  cut  our  own  throats 
by  removing  an  enemy  so  little  to  be  feared  as  Clinton 
and  thus  make  room  for  perhaps  an  abler  man. 

All  this  while  we  of  the  Continental  army  were  per 
plexed  at  the  conduct  of  the  enemy.  We  had  been  in 
sore  straits,  and  one  sharp  blow  would  perhaps  have  de 
stroyed  our  greatest  force  and  captured  the  Hudson,  yet 
Mr.  Howe  remained  inactive,  though  in  great  strength. 
We  knew  not  where  the  next  blow  would  be  directed, 
and  General  Washington  feared  an  attack  upon  the 
Jersey  shore,  and  cautioned  General  Mercer,  who  had 
command  of  the  flying  camp,  to  be  watchful  upon  the 
Neversink  Heights  and  to  observe  the  British  fleet. 


318  A    YANKEE    VOLUNTEER. 

Then  came  tidings  that  tents  had  been  struck  on  Staten 
Island  and  Howe  landed,  with  a  large  detachment,  at 
Throg's  Neck,  with  the  intention,  as  we  thought,  of  get 
ting  behind  our  army  and  thus  cutting  off  our  retreat  into 
the  Highlands.  At  this  time,  against  the  wishes  and 
judgment  of  our  best  officers,  Congress  strongly  urged 
the  holding  of  Fort  Washington,  which  was  thought 
manifestly  unwise  in  the  face  of  the  enemy's  superior 
force  on  land  and  water.  It  was  determined  to  abandon 
Manhattan  Island  for  like  reasons,  and  we  fell  back  into 
a  strong  position  behind  the  Bronx,  his  Excellency  trans 
ferring  his  headquarters  to  White  Plains.  We  lay  above 
King's  Bridge  between  the  Bronx  and  the  Saw  Mill 
rivers,  with  White  Plains  above  us.  General  Howe, 
seeing  his  first  enterprise  thwarted,  embarked  his  troops 
and  crossed  to  Pell's  Point,  from  whence  he  moved 
on  New  Rochelle,  no  doubt  still  purposing  to  outflank 
us. 

The  autumn  was  now  far  advanced,  and  the  winds 
swept  down  fiercely  from  the  gloomy  Highlands,  driving 
the  dead  leaves  before  them,  while  the  scarlet  of  the 
sumach  shone  amongst  the  underbrush,  here  and  there, 
like  the  embers  of  the  autumn  fire  burning  low. 

While  we  were  abiding  the  sure  approaches  of  the 
foe,  I  was  wholly  taken  by  surprise  at  a  new  arrival  in 
our  camp.  It  was  on  a  fine  morning  after  prayers, 
and  I  had  gone  to  my  quarters  for  one  of  my  pistols, 
which  I  had  left  behind  in  a  moment  of  thoughtlessness. 
As  I  returned  to  my  post  of  duty,  I  found  a  stir  in  camp. 
A  young  man  had  ridden  through  the  lines  with  one  of 
our  officers  and  was  gone  to  headquarters.  It  was  re 
ported  that  he  was  a  redcoat,  and  there  was  no  small 
curiosity  about  him,  since  he  came  alone  and  unpro 
tected  by  a  flag.  Rumor  had  it  that  he  was  a  spy  taken 


A    YOUNG   TURNCOAT.  319 

in  the  act  and  would  be  hung,  while  others  said  that  he 
was  one  of  General  Howe's  staff,  and  had  surrendered 
with  important  papers  upon  his  person.  No  little  ex 
citement  prevailed,  yet  the  day  wore  on  and  no  one's 
curiosity  was  satisfied,  and  after  a  season  the  incident 
was  forgotten  and  men  went  about  their  duties  soberly. 
It  was  not  until  evening  that  I  was  any  wiser  than  the 
others,  and  my  enlightenment  happened  after  this  manner. 
It  was  the  day  before  Lord  Stirling  started  out  upon  his 
expedition  to  entrap  that  renegade  Rogers,  who  with 
his  Corps  of  Tories,  called  by  the  fine  name  of  the 
Queen's  Rangers,  was  stationed  at  the  left  of  the  British 
lines  at  Mamaroneck.  Having  served  with  Stirling  at 
the  battle  on  Long  Island,  I  desired  to  accompany  him 
upon  this  errand,  hoping  that  we  might  retrieve  some  of 
our  evil  fortune.  But  this  I  was  denied,  though  promised 
an  opportunity  to  meet  the  enemy  at  no  distant  date. 
Disappointed,  therefore,  in  my  efforts  to  gain  permission 
to  join  Stirling,  as  a  volunteer,  I  was  returning  to  my 
quarters  at  dusk,  and  was  unattended  even  by  Ephraim. 
Being  wrapped  in  deep  thought,  I  was  startled  at  the 
sudden  approach  of  a  stranger,  whose  face  I  saw  but 
dimly  m  the  uncertain  light,  and  whose  plain  dark  dress 
betrayed  no  signs  of  his  military  rank. 

"Captain  Allen,  I  believe,"  he  said;  and  his  voice, 
from  embarrassment  or  hesitation,  faltered  a  little. 

"Ay,  sir,  Captain  Allen,"  I  replied,  a  trifle  curtly, 
because  I  did  not  wish  for  company  upon  my  way. 
"What  is  your  desire?" 

"  I  have  no  desire  to  trouble  you,  sir,"  he  replied 
sharply,  "  if  you  wish  to  forget  my  claim  to  old 
acquaintance." 

At  this,  I  knew  him,  both  by  his  voice  and  his  quick 
tempered  retort. 


320  A    YANKEE    VOLUNTEER. 

"  Dick  !  "  I  cried  out  in  amazement,  "  how  came  you 
here,  and  thus?  " 

"  I  am  ashamed  to  speak  the  truth,"  he  answered, 
with  boyish  anger  in  his  voice,  "  and  to  you  whom  I  have 
so  often  ill  used  for  a  like  course." 

It  dawned  upon  me  then,  at  once,  that  matters  had 
reached  a  climax,  and  Dick,  with  all  his  father's  fiery 
temper,  had  rebelled  against  his  superiors  and  left  the 
king's  service.  As  a  boy,  he  had  ever  a  warm  heart  but 
a  fickle  mind,  and  held  not  strongly  to  any  purpose. 
In  this,  he  and  Sir  Anthony  were  totally  unlike,  and  it 
had  been  the  cause  of  many  a  quarrel  between  them. 
Knowing  the  boy  so  well,  and  loving  him  with  all  his 
faults,  I  could  not  find  it  in  my  heart  to  resent  his  evil 
usage  of  me,  nor  would  I  reproach  him  for  his  own 
change  of  sentiment.  Rather  did  I  endeavor  to  make 
the  road  easy  for  his  feet. 

"  I  see  it  all,  dear  Richard,"  I  said,  laying  my  hand 
upon  his  shoulder  kindly  ;  "  you  have  come  to  a  better 
mind  and  will  no  longer  see  your  country  oppressed  by 
an  army  half  made  up  of  hirelings.  I  am  rejoiced  to 
welcome  you  to  our  ranks,  and  I  am  sure  that  you  will 
never  regret  your  course." 

"  You  are  a  good  fellow,  Allen  ! "  Dick  said  peni 
tently.  "  I  don't  know  another  who  would  not  have 
thrown  it  in  my  teeth  to  pay  off  old  scores.  You 
soften  the  matter  much,  but  I  know  that  I  am  but  a 
turncoat,  yet  would  I  fight  against  my  own  countrymen 
no  more." 

"  It  is  best  to  change  a  coat  that  is  so  ill  a  fit  for  the 
wearer,"  I  answered  ;  "  you  would  never  have  drawn  your 
sword  against  us,  had  you  given  the  matter  thought  at 
first.  But,  tell  me,  where  is  your  mother? — and  where 
is  Joyce?  " 


A    YOUNG    TUKNCOAT.  321 

I  could  not  see  his  face  in  the  darkness,  but  I  knew 
that  there  was  a  change  in  his  manner. 

"They  are  in  New  York, "he  answered  soberly  enough. 

"  In  New  York ! "  I  exclaimed,  "  and  you  have 
quitted  the  royal  service  —  how  is  this?" 

"  It  happened  quickly,"  he  admitted,  I  thought  with 
some  reluctance.  "  I  was  ordered  to  perform  a  service 
that  I  regarded  as  unworthy  of  my  name  —  and  I  de 
clined  ;  then  followed  a  sharp  discipline  for  insubordina 
tion,  and  such  words  were  spoken  as  I  would  not  endure, 
and  I  resigned." 

"  What  was  the  service,  Dick?"  I  asked  softly,  not  a 
little  curious  to  try  the  boy's  temper. 

In  the  darkness,  I  could  just  discern  the  haughty 
gesture  with  which  he  replied. 

"  They  asked  me  to  be  nothing  more  and  nothing  less 
than  a  spy  of  the  lowest  sort,  and  I  replied  that  I  was  an 
officer  and  a  gentleman  and  would  perform  no  such 
office  —  not  for  the  king  himself.  It  was  an  affront  put 
upon  me  by  my  enemies,  and  they  have  worked  upon 
the  mind  of  General  Howe  to  my  ruin." 

"  And  you  resigned,"  I  said,  as  he  paused. 

"  Ay,  on  the  instant." 

"  Then,  in  Heaven's  name,  why  did  you  not  take  your 
mother  and  Joyce  from  their  midst?"  I  asked  sharply. 

"  I  resigned  at  Throg's  Neck,"  he  replied  simply, 
"  and  was  going  back  to  New  York,  with  the  hope  of 
withdrawing  to  Marblehead,  but  was  warned  by  a  friend 
that  I  would  be  arrested  if  I  returned  to  the  town  ; 
indeed,  I  barely  escaped  arrest  as  it  was.  They  in 
tended  to  try  me  a  second  time  by  court-martial  and 
charge  me  with  treachery — I,  who  have  never  been 
a  traitor.  Disgusted  at  the  course  pursued  against 
me  —  I  have  been  persecuted  —  I  left  the  camp  and 


322  A    YANKEE    VOLUNTEER. 

came  to  General  Washington  ;  my  sword  is  now  at  his 
disposal." 

I  had  well  nigh  smiled  at  his  description  of  his  wrongs  ; 
it  was  Dick's  way  ever  to  regard  himself  as  a  martyr 
after  he  had  stirred  up  the  quarrel.  But  other  matters 
lay  too  heavy  on  my  mind  for  the  shadow  of  amusement. 

"  But  your  mother  and  your  sister?  "  I  persisted  ;  "all 
this  will  fall  heavily  upon  them,  and  they  are  now  with 
out  a  protector." 

"  I  know  it,"  he  admitted  peevishly,  "  but  I  cannot 
help  it.  Sir  William  will  let  no  ill  befall  them,"  he  added 
reluctantly  ;  "  he  has  some  friendship  for  them,  though 
none  for  me." 

I  could*  have  shaken  the  young  coxcomb  for  his  selfish 
ness,  but  I  forbore  to  speak.  He  had  no  thought  but  of 
his  own  grievance,  and  I  doubted  not  that  he  had  pro 
voked  his  superiors  by  his  insubordination  and  violent 
ways,  which  were  like  to  make  yet  more  trouble  for 
him  in  our  camp,  where  his  Excellency  had  but  little 
tolerance  for  these  wild  young  gallants.  Our  general 
had  solemnly  charged  us  to  "  endeavor  so  to  live  and 
act  as  becomes  a  Christian  soldier,  defending  the 
dearest  rights  and  liberties  of  his  country."  It  was 
therefore  little  probable  that  he  would  tolerate  Dick's 
wild  manners  and  the  idle  way  of  living  that  he  had 
learned  from  the  fashionable  young  officers  of  the  royal 
camp.  But  my  thoughts  at  the  time  were  all  for 
Joyce,  now  so  unfortunately  placed  in  the  midst  of 
men  that  must  look  with  little  kindness  and  some 
suspicion  upon  the  family. 

"  Your  mother  was  duly  warned  of  your  course,"  I 
asked  him,  I  fear  a  trifle  coldly. 

"  I  sent  a  letter  to  her  by  a  safe  hand,"  he  answered, 
with  more  nonchalance  than  I  liked  ;  "  she  knew  that  I 


A    YOUNG   TURNCOAT.  323 

was  fretting  under  bad  treatment  —  has  known  it  since 
we  were  in  Halifax." 

I  sighed ;  there  was  little  hope  of  awakening  him  to 
a  sense  of  his  responsibility,  and  I  saw  that  for  the  while 
I  must  let  the  matter  rest.  I  had  the  comfort,  however, 
of  knowing  that  he  was  probably  right  in  his  confidence 
that  Mr.  Howe  would  be  fair  in  his  treatment  of  the 
two  inoffensive  women  who  were  left  to  bear  the  brunt 
of  the  boy's  folly  and  hot  temper.  I  made  up  my  mind 
to  keep  a  close  hold  upon  him,  and,  with  that  purpose 
in  view,  invited  him  to  share  my  quarters.  Feeling 
himself  alone,  and  the  mark  of  curious  observation  in 
our  army,  he  accepted  gladly  the  proffers  of  old  friend 
ship,  and  when  I  got  him  in  the  light  at  supper,  I  for 
gave  him  much.  I  saw  the  lines  of  care  and  sorrow  on 
his  bright  young  face,  and  the  expression  of  pain  in  his 
blue  eyes.  For  the  first  time  I  realized  what  it  had 
cost  him  to  leave  the  service  he  had  entered  when 
little  more  than  a  child.  I  remembered,  too,  that  with 
all  his  faults,  Dick  had  ever  a  warm  heart,  and  that  it 
was  his  way  to  hide  his  feelings  by  an  air  of  nonchalant 
bravado  or  of  indifference.  Something  in  his  look  and 
manner  touched  me,  and  I  laid  my  hand  upon  his 
shoulder. 

"  Dick,"  I  said  softly,  "  I  am  sorry  —  I  understand 
it  all,  at  last." 

At  the  touch  of  sympathy,  the  memory  too,  perhaps, 
of  our  old  companionship,  he  laid  his  head  down  on 
the  table  and  cried  like  a  child.  Then  I  knew  how 
bitter  was  the  part  that  he  had  had  to  play,  how  keen 
the  mortification.  He  came  not  of  turncoat  blood,  and 
this  was  a  day  of  reckoning  that  his  proud  spirit  would 
remember  long.  From  that  hour  I  began  to  believe 
that  perhaps  he  had  not  been  wholly  influenced  by 


324  A    YANKEE    VOLUNTEER. 

resentment,  but  had  rather  gradually  awakened  to  the 
fact  that  he  was  drawing  the  sword  upon  his  brethren 
in  an  unworthy  cause.  At  least  I  loved  to  believe  that 
it  was  so,  and  forgave  him  all  but  his  carelessness  of 
his  mother  and  of  Joyce.  And  even  in  this  I  saw  that 
circumstance  had  been  against  him,  and  reflected  that 
it  was  better  for  them  to  have  him  here  than  imprisoned 
in  New  York  and  judged  by  military  law.  There  was, 
too,  a  happiness  in  the  feeling  that  the  sword  was  no 
more  drawn  between  us,  and  that  Dick  Talbot  stood  at 
my  side  at  last.  How  different  had  it  been  when  last 
the  same  tent  sheltered  both  at  Cambridge. 


CHAPTER  XL. 

RECONNOISSANCE. 

IN  the  weeks  that  followed,  trial  and  disaster  came  so 
thick  upon  our  army  that  little  time  remained  for  any 
private  grief  or  care  of  mine.  Strange,  too,  it  seemed 
that  in  this  hour  of  evil  fortune  Dick  Talbot  should  fight 
beside  me,  shoulder  to  shoulder.  He  was  much  sub 
dued  and  sobered  by  his  own  change  of  colors,  and 
won  friends  among  us  as  rapidly  as  he  seemed  to  have 
made  enemies  among  the  redcoats.  It  may  be  that  the 
sight  of  men  contending  desperately  for  the  cause  they 
loved,  and  enduring  sharp  privations,  worked  upon  him 
as  he  thought  of  the  contrast  between  the  ragged  pa 
triot  shivering  in  the  autumn  winds  and  the  well- 
fed,  warmly  clad  soldier  whom  the  king  had  hired  to 
shoot  down  his  people.  However  that  may  be,  certain 
it  is  that  Dick  was  strangely  sober  and  curbed  his  quick 
temper,  accepting  a  rank  below  the  one  he  had  resigned. 
Indeed,  there  was  food  for  thought  in  what  he  saw  in 
those  days  of  disaster.  There  was,  at  first,  the  brilliant 
dash  of  Lord  Stirling  against  the  enemy,  when  he  cap 
tured  the  colors,  thirty-six  prisoners,  and  sixty  stand  of 
arms.  But  after  that  came  the  battle  at  White  Plains. 
At  the  approach  of  the  British,  General  Washington 
called  in  his  outposts  from  along  the  Bronx,  taking  his 
position  at  White  Plains,  where  there  was  a  sharp  con 
flict  with  the  foe.  They  took  a  place  called  Chatter- 
ton  Hill,  which  commanded  our  lines;  and  here  they 


326  A    YANKEE    VOLUNTEER. 

rested,  for  night  was  upon  them,  and  there  had  been 
loss  on  both  sides.  We  employed  the  time  in  strength 
ening  our  position,  and  in  building  redoubts  which  in 
the  morning  deceived  the  enemy.  They  were  made  of 
the  stalks  of  Indian  corn  uprooted,  with  the  earth  upon 
them,  from  a  neighboring  field  and  employed  as  sods 
and  fascines.  Thus  we  labored,  our  men  in  rags  and 
shivering  in  the  cold,  while  before  us  in  the  darkness 
burned  the  watchfires  of  the  redcoats.  When  morn 
ing  dawned,  the  enemy,  deceived  by  our  apparently 
strong  works,  forbore  to  attack  us,  and  began  to  throw 
up  lines  and  redoubts  in  our  front.  His  Excellency 
was  then  convinced  that  they  intended  to  outflank  us 
and  seize  the  passes  of  the  Highlands ;  once  more  he 
retreated,  though  there  was  murmuring  among  the  offi 
cers  who  did  not  comprehend  his  course  and  thought 
that  he  fled  before  the  foe.  Rather  did  he  defeat  him 
by  the  skill  of  his  manoeuvers.  We  retreated  at  night, 
setting  fire  to  the  barns  and  stores  we  left  behind  us, 
and  proceeding  some  five  miles  over  the  rocky  country 
to  Northcastle,  where  we  took  up  a  strong  position,  —  so 
strong,  indeed,  that  General  Howe  made  no  attempt  to 
dislodge  us.  He  would,  no  doubt,  have  fallen  upon 
our  rear-guard  at  the  time  of  the  retreat,  but  heavy  rain 
prevented  him,  and  so  they  also  escaped  unscathed. 
Then  was  it  their  turn  to  astound  us.  After  lying  idle 
for  a  few  days,  sounds  were  heard  one  night  in  their 
camp,  and  in  the  morning  we  beheld  the  whole  force 
in  full  retreat  upon  the  roads  to  Dobbs'  Ferry.  They 
departed,  British  and  Hessians,  without  another  blow, 
and  left  us  in  no  little  perplexity  as  to  their  intentions. 
The  chief  anxiety  was  still  for  the  safety  of  the  Hudson, 
and  there  could  be  no  doubt  that  Howe  intended,  if 
possible,  to  obtain  possession  of  this  stronghold  and  so 


RECONNOISSANCE.  327 

control  the  inland  country.  Fort  Washington  and  Fort 
Lee  were  both  garrisoned,  and  it  was  probable  that  the 
British  would  attack  the  former. 

Our  poor  fellows  were  in  great  distress,  many  barefoot 
and  without  coats;  others  ragged  and  miserable,  all 
worn  out  with  the  exacting  sen-ice  to  which  they  were  so 
little  accustomed,  and  much  disheartened,  too,  by  con 
stant  reverses.  General  Lee  was  with  us,  and  added 
little  to  the  comfort  of  the  army,  since  he  was  but  too 
prone  to  criticise  his  commander-in-chief. 

Troubles  come  not  singly,  and,  ere  many  days,  we  were 
to  see  the  fall  of  Fort  Washington  and  the  surrender  of 
the  gallant  garrison.  After  perplexing  us  with  a  season 
of  inactivity,  General  Howe  moved  his  forces  against 
this  post,  which  had  been  held  against  the  better  judg 
ment  of  Washington.  His  Excellency  was  forced  to 
witness  the  battle  from  the  opposite  shore  of  the  Hudson, 
and  had  the  unhappiness  of  seeing  the  royal  standard 
planted  on  the  fort.  It  was  attacked  upon  all  sides  by 
the  British  and  the  Hessians,  and  after  a  most  gallant 
resistance  the  garrison  was  forced  to  surrender  to 
Knyphausen's  division.  Over  two  thousand  of  our 
brave  fellows  were  marched  off  at  night,  prisoners,  to 
New  York.  We  were  compelled,  too,  to  give  up  Fort 
Lee,  no  longer  tenable  against  the  enemy ;  and  bitter 
was  the  anxiety  for  the  Hudson.  All  hope  of  obstruct 
ing  the  navigation  of  the  river  was  at  an  end,  and  the 
passes  through  the  Highlands  were  threatened  by  the 
superior  force  of  the  enemy.  We  had  withdrawn  from 
Fort  Lee,  at  the  approach  of  Lord  Cornwallis,  and  fell 
back  upon  the  Hackensack. 

It  was  at  this  time  that  the  star  of  my  evil  fortune 
was  in  the  ascendant.  The  British  took  up  their  position 
among  our  vacant  tents,  and  seemed  to  be  in  great 


328  A    YANKEE    VOLUNTEER. 

numbers.  It  was  necessary  to  reconnoiter  their  lines, 
to  learn  something  of  their  strength,  and  volunteers 
were  requested  for  this  service.  Only  such  men  as 
desired  to  encounter  the  risks  volunteered,  and  of  these 
I  was  among  the  number  actually  chosen.  Our  small 
party  was  full  of  daring  and  good  spirits,  the  danger 
being  but  an  incentive  to  activity.  We  crossed  the 
Hackensack  at  nightfall,  and  advanced  cautiously  toward 
the  enemy's  pickets.  We  had  the  advantage,  too,  of 
knowing  the  ground  well,  since  this  had  been  our  own 
encampment.  Sheltered  by  the  darkness,  we  approached 
their  outposts  with  less  difficulty  than  we  had  looked  for, 
and  reconnoitered  their  lines,  coming  as  near  as  we 
dared  to  their  sentries.  Several  of  the  party  with  me 
were  Virginians  and  skilled  in  woodcraft,  having  been 
with  General  Washington  beyond  the  Alleghanies,  and 
to  them  this  service  had  its  own  peculiar  fascination  ; 
they  were  adroit  in  their  manceuvers,  while  I  soon  felt 
myself  a  blunderer.  It  was  ever  my  foot  that  crushed 
the  twig  with  a  sharp  snap,  ever  my  weapon  on  which 
the  campfire  flashed.  However,  we  remained  yet  un 
discovered,  and  had  penetrated  close  to  their  lines  and 
were  satisfied  that  they  were  in  great  force.  In  the 
dense  shadow  we  stood  and  watched  them  pass  and 
repass  their  fires,  or  gather  about  them ;  and  their  ap 
pearance  of  well-fed,  well-warmed  ease  struck  us  with 
a  sharp  sense  of  the  contrast  between  these,  the  king's 
soldiers,  and  our  poor  ragged  fellows  beyond  the  Hack 
ensack.  I  remember  that  I  thought  it  well  that  some  of 
the  poorer  sort  could  not  examine  this  scene  at  their 
leisure ;  verily,  their  loyalty  to  a  true  cause  might  have 
suffered  thereby. 

So  far  all  had  gone  well,  and  we  began  now  to  retreat 
with  the  same  caution  that  we  had  approached,  having 


RECONNOISSANCE.  329 

accomplished  our  errand.  Each  man  carried  his  loaded 
musket  ready  in  his  hand,  and  we  separated,  going  in 
pairs,  to  run  less  risk  of  a  general  capture.  A  young 
Virginian  was  my  companion,  and  we  turned  our  faces 
toward  the  river,  walking  in  silence  lest  any  pickets 
should  be  out  upon  a  similar  service,  to  reconnoiter  our 
position.  We  had  proceeded  safely  to  some  distance 
from  their  lines  when  we  became  aware  that  we  had 
stumbled  into  a  party  coming  from  the  direction  of  the 
river.  They  had  advanced  so  quietly,  and  with  such 
celerity,  that  we  were  unaware  of  their  approach  until 
they  were  within  a  few  yards  of  us.  Then  we  were  un 
certain  whether  it  was  friend  or  foe,  and  while  we  debated 
softly  upon  the  risk  of  a  challenge,  they  came  upon  us. 
As  yet  we  were  unperceived,  and  might  have  so  re 
mained  but  for  an  untoward  accident.  The  young 
fellow  who  was  with  me,  moving  back  a  little  to  be 
farther  from  their  path,  caught  his  foot  in  the  gnarled 
root  of  a  tree  and  fell,  his  gun  discharging  as  he  did 
so.  In  an  instant  there  was  an  alarm,  and  some  brief 
order  sharply  given.  Had  I  been  a  knave,  I  could  have 
saved  myself  then,  for  they  could  not  see  in  the  dark 
ness  ;  but  I  would  not  leave  my  comrade.  I  stooped  to 
help  him  to  his  feet,  for  he  had  struck  his  head  and  was 
slightly  stunned.  That  brief  delay  was  my  undoing ;  the 
flash  of  the  weapon  had  revealed  our  position,  and  they 
surrounded  us.  I  knew  now  that  they  were  British,  and, 
having  the  Virginian  by  the  arm,  I  made  an  effort  to 
dash  through  them,  drawing  my  pistol  and  firing  as  I 
sprang  forward.  But  it  availed  nothing ;  they  were  ten 
to  one,  and  in  the  night  I  could  not  see  to  aim  and  so 
effected  no  mischief  in  their  ranks.  They  closed  upon 
us,  and  seizing  our  weapons,  made  us  march  with  them  to 
the  camp.  I  soon  perceived  that  we  had  caused  no  little 


330  A    YANKEE    VOLUNTEER. 

alarm,  since  they  imagined  that  they  had  stumbled  upon 
an  ambuscade  and  seemed  still  apprehensive,  even  after 
securing  us,  that  a  large  force  was  at  hand.  They  made 
us  march  therefore  at  double  quick  ;  indeed,  we  nearly 
ran  for  the  first  few  yards,  and  I  could  scarce  refrain 
from  smiling  at  their  consternation.  They  were  not 
entirely  without  reason,  either,  for  General  Washington 
had  won  the  reputation  of  sudden  and  silent  moves, 
though  they  had  been  thus  far  rather  in  retreat  than  in 
attack.  It  was  a  common  though  a  bitter  jest  amongst 
us  to  say  that  retreating  was  yet  the  fashion. 

We  were  now  taken  within  the  lines  that  we  had  lately 
viewed  from  a  distance,  and  were  both  examined  by  an 
officer,  though  not  that  night  before  Cornwallis.  I 
think  they  were  too  busy  in  their  preparations  for  an 
attack  to  concern  themselves  about  us.  We  were  sepa 
rated  and  carefully  guarded,  but  they  failed  to  make 
anything  of  us.  I  was  relieved  that  we  seemed  to  be 
the  only  members  of  our  little  party  captured,  and 
trusted  that  the  others  had  recrossed  the  Hackensack 
in  safety.  All  night  I  heard  a  great  stir  in  the  camp, 
and  knew  that  they  looked  for  an  assault,  supposing  us 
to  be  but  the  forerunners  of  a  detachment.  For  my 
own  part,  my  reflections  were  sorry  enough.  Here  was 
a  sharp  climax  to  my  career,  and  I  remembered,  with 
dreary  apprehension,  the  slow  course  of  negotiations  for 
an  exchange  of  prisoners.  I  thought  with  keen  regret 
of  my  hopes  and  ambitions  of  the  morning.  It  seemed 
that  I  was  not  destined  to  any  great  distinction.  Mis 
fortune  ever  cut  me  off  from  the  most  active  service, 
and  dashed  the  cup  of  preferment  from  my  lips.  How- 
beit,  I  set  my  heart  to  bear  it,  reflecting  that  vain  re 
grets  would  not  mend  my  fortunes ;  but  never  had  the 
watches  of  the  night  seemed  longer  or  more  dreary, 


RECONNOISSAXCE.  331 

and  I  hailed  the  first  gleam  of  day  with  relief.  Yet  the 
day  was  to  bring  me  no  satisfaction.  I  was  examined 
briefly  by  Lord  Cornwallis,  being  taken  before  him  and 
two  officers  of  his  staff.  But  drawing  nothing  from  me, 
and  by  this  time  satisfied  that  we  had  been  out  on  some 
exploit  without  any  force  behind  us,  I  was  committed  to 
the  custody  of  an  officer,  who  presently  informed  me 
that  we  would  set  out  at  noon  for  New  York.  I  knew 
that  my  fate  was  to  be  one  of  the  prisons  of  the  town, 
and  my  heart  sank  at  the  thought.  We  had  no  lack  of 
gloomy  descriptions  of  the  treatment  of  the  prisoners, 
and  the  British  recognized  no  rank  amongst  us,  so  that 
the  highest  and  the  lowest  shared  an  equal  punishment. 
Thus  I  turned  my  face  again  to  New  York  with  a  re 
luctance  that  I  had  not  thought  to  feel.  I  was  going  to 
the  same  town  that  held  Joyce,  but  went  with  keen 
regret.  Strange,  indeed,  is  fate  ! 


CHAPTER  XLI. 

GENERAL   HOWE. 

I  HAD  been  separated  from  the  young  Virginian  whose 
misfortune  caused  our  disaster ;  nor  did  I  see  him  again 
for  many  months,  —  not,  indeed,  until  he  was  exchanged 
with  other  prisoners.  I  was  taken  alone,  under  guard, 
to  the  city.  The  party,  some  half-dozen  British  dra 
goons,  commanded  by  a  decent  man,  who  treated  me 
with  some  civility,  proceeded  at  their  leisure ;  an  errand 
taking  them  to  King's  Bridge,  where  we  lay  that  night. 
It  was  noon  when  we  rode  down  the  Bloomingdale  road 
to  Bowery  Lane.  Off  toward  Lispenard's  meadows 
some  volunteers  were  drilling,  and  the  officer  with  me 
informed  me  that  they  were  loyalists  who  had  entered 
his  Majesty's  service.  I  knew  them  to  be  the  same 
Tories  who  had  given  us  so  much  trouble,  and  looked 
with  interest  and  much  scorn  upon  them.  They  made, 
however,  a  smart  appearance,  and  were  drilling  with  a 
great  show  of  alacrity  and  some  skill.  Their  uniforms 
and  accouterments  were  of  the  gayest,  as  it  is  ever  with 
new  soldiers.  We  were  sharply  challenged  by  the  sen 
tries  as  we  entered  the  town,  and  I  perceived  that  it 
was  under  strict  martial  law.  At  the  sight  of  a  Yankee 
officer  riding  in  the  midst  of  the  redcoats,  a  little  crowd 
gathered  at  our  heels.  We  passed  down  Broadway,  ob 
jects  of  open  curiosity,  and  some  applause  from  a  low 
set  of  knaves  that  are  ever  ready  to  cry  out  at  a  small  ex 
citement.  I  was  quick  to  notice  signs  of  sharp  distress 


GENERAL  HOWE.  333 

among  the  poor,  and  that  the  town  was  overrun  with 
idle  soldiers  ripe  for  mischief.  I  observed,  too,  a  strange 
symbol  upon  some  of  the  houses,  a  large  R.  inscribed 
upon  them  in  a  conspicuous  place.  This,  I  soon 
learned,  was  intended  to  designate  the  rebel  property 
which  was  confiscated  to  the  king.  Upon  one  corner 
was  pasted  a  placard  advertising  a  reward  for  "  a  bright 
yellow  girl  with  gold  rings  in  her  ears,"  who  had  run 
away  from  her  mistress,  and  was,  so  said  the  notice,  "  an 
evil-tempered  wench  and  ripe  for  mischief."  So  it  was 
not  clear  why  a  reward  was  offered  for  her.  Little  more 
did  I  notice,  save  that  the  Tories  were  now  abroad  in 
great  numbers.  The  captain  of  our  little  company, 
annoyed  by  the  mob  that  gathered  at  our  heels,  quick 
ened  the  gait  of  our  horses,  and  we  came  at  a  full  trot 
to  Livingstone's  sugar-house  on  Liberty  Street,  and  here 
we  halted.  I  was  ordered  to  dismount,  and  did  so  with 
so  much  stubborn  reluctance'  that  one  of  the  troopers 
swore  at  me  for  my  delay.  I  was  hurried  into  the 
building  with  little  ceremony,  and  found  it  crowded 
with  the  prisoners  taken  at  Fort  Washington.  I  had 
heard  stories  of  the  hard  treatment  of  our  men,  but  had 
no  thought  to  find  it  as  bad  as  this ;  yet  afterwards  it 
was  far  worse,  they  told  me,  when  the  war  had  been 
longer  under  way.  The  men  were  crowded  like  sheep, 
and  there  was  no  hope  of  cleanliness  or  even  decency. 
Many  a  sad  tale  they  told  me,  and  I  saw  more  written 
on  faces  that  were  marred  by  hunger.  I  soon  found 
that  we  were  like  to  starve,  for  no  decent  food  was 
brought  us,  and  the  little  that  we  had,  beans  and  bread 
for  the  most  part,  was  almost  past  eating.  As  for  our 
keepers,  they  were  of  the  lowest  sort,  and  no  surgeon  or 
minister  came  to  this  gloomy  place  while  1  was  there. 
I  was  greatly  moved  by  the  sight  of  a  young  soldier,  a 


334  A    YANKEE   VOLUNTEER. 

mere  boy,  lying  on  the  floor  with  a  wound  that  had 
never  been  dressed,  and  slowly  dying.  I  tried  in  vain 
to  help  him,  to  move  the  turnkey  to  call  a  doctor ;  but 
it  was  of  no  use  to  plead  with  these  people,  and  indeed 
the  boy  was  far  gone  when  I  got  there.  I  tended  him 
through  that  night,  and  so  forgot  my  own  misfortune. 
The  poor  lad  was  out  of  his  head  and  raved,  and  would 
have  beaten  his  brains  out  had  I  not  held  him.  The 
other  prisoners,  poor  souls,  were  so  disheartened,  so 
hardened  to  the  sight  of  distress,  that  they  took  little 
interest,  and  could  not  even  tell  me  the  boy's  name. 
Before  morning  he  died,  conscious  at  the  very  last,  but 
too  weak  to  do  more  than  murmur  "Mother,"  as  he 
passed  away.  The  day  was  breaking  when  I  laid  him 
down  upon  the  floor,  for  beds  we  had  not,  and  his  bright 
hair  caught  the  first  ray  of  sunlight  that  shone  in  at  the 
barred  window.  His  suffering  had  served  to  occupy  my 
thoughts,  but  now  I  looked  about  me  in  a  dull  despair. 
I  read  in  the  indifference  of  these  wretched  men  what 
they  had  endured.  They  looked  at  the  body  on  the 
floor  with  cold  composure,  and  told  me  that  such  deaths 
were  common.  The  corpse  lay  there  all  day,  and  once 
a  turnkey  would  have  kicked  it  aside  had  I  not  stood 
between,  and  the  wretch,  measuring  my  size,  let  the 
dead  boy  lie.  At  evening  they  took  the  body  out,  as 
they  would  have  taken  that  of  a  beast,  and  told  me  it 
would  go  to  the  potter's  field.  Poor  lad  !  I  remem 
bered  that  cry  of  "  Mother,"  and  thought  sadly  of  the 
woman  who  knew  not  his  fearful  end. 

I  could  not  eat  the  prison  food,  and  could  scarcely 
drink  the  water  that  they  gave  us,  for  it  was  very  foul ; 
so  it  seemed  that  I  might  soon  end  by  starvation.  But 
we  do  not  die  easily,  and  I  lived  in  this  purgatory  five 
long  days  and  saw  two  more  men  die,  one  of  dysentery 


GENERAL   HOWE.  335 

and  another  of  fever,  and  they,  too,  were  carried  out  and 
thrown  in  the  potter's  field.  I  began  to  wonder  how 
soon  my  turn  might  come,  and  the  men  about  me  asked 
why  they  had  not  sent  me  to  the  Old  Provost,  where  they 
sent  the  officers.  So  on  the  sixth  day,  when  the  turnkey 
told  me  that  I  was  ordered  to  leave  the  sugar-house,  I 
supposed  it  was  to  go  to  the  Old  Provost ;  but  such  was 
not  the  case.  I  was  taken  down  the  stairs,  and  in  the 
hall  found  the  civil  officer  who  had  brought  me,  and  I 
saw  that  he  was  startled  at  the  sight  of  me.  Five 
days  without  food,  or  with  scarcely  any,  and  with  no 
means  of  cleanliness  had  made  a  sorry  change,  I  doubt 
not.  He  told  me  briefly  that  he  had  orders  to  remove 
me,  and  at  the  door  I  found  an  escort  with  a  led  horse 
for  me.  The  captain,  who  had  not  ceased  staring  at 
me,  had  some  talk  with  his  lieutenant,  and  then  we 
mounted.  I  believe  that  they  were  kind-hearted  men, 
and  that  the  sight  of  such  a  change  told  them  a  sad 
story  of  what  we  had  to  endure.  Howbeit  they  took  me 
to  the  Fly  Market,  where,  at  the  corner  of  Brownjohn's 
Wharf,  was  a  tavern  much  frequented  by  British  officers. 
Here  we  dismounted,  and  the  captain  told  me  that  1 
would  find  means  to  arrange  my  dress  and  could  dine 
here  before  we  proceeded.  For  the  opportunity  to  bathe 
and  dress,  I  was  thankful,  but  my  stomach  was  too  weak 
for  much  food,  and  I  was  stared  at  with  such  insolence 
by  the  young  officers  in  the  public  room  that  I  was  far 
too  angry  to  digest  even  a  bowl  of  broth,  which  was  all 
that  I  could  swallow.  As  soon  as  I  had  finished  this,  I 
began  to  speculate  upon  their  intentions ;  but  I  was  not 
left  long  in  uncertainty.  I  had  scarcely  despatched  my 
soup  before  an  orderly  arrived  who  whispered  apart  with 
the  officer  who  had  me  in  charge,  and  I  was  immedi 
ately  desired  to  mount.  Escorted  by  the  orderly  and 


A    YANKEE    VOLUNTEER. 

my  guardian,  I  proceeded  by  a  quiet  route  through  the 
streets  toward  the  height  near  East  River.  It  was  not 
long  before  I  divined  their  destination ;  Lord  Howe 
was  at  Beekman's  house  upon  this  height,  and  there  they 
were  taking  me.  We  were  challenged  by  the  sentry,  and 
then  passed  on  and  dismounted  before  the  main  entrance, 
where,  after  some  parley,  we  were  admitted  and  waited 
for  a  brief  interval  in  the  hall.  I  could  not  comprehend 
their  purpose,  but  my  thoughts  were  gloomy  enough,  and 
standing  there,  I  remembered  that  gallant  young  soldier, 
Nathan  Hale,  who  had  served  with  me  outside  of  Boston, 
and,  after  the  battle  of  Long  Island,  volunteered  to  pen 
etrate  the  enemy's  lines  and  bring  sure  information  of 
their  works.  He  had  fallen  into  their  hands,  been  tried 
in  this  very  house,  and  sentenced  to  death  as  a  spy. 
With  these  reflections  in  my  mind,  I  waited  patiently 
for  the  unfolding  of  my  own  fate.  I  could  hear  the  sound 
of  voices  and  the  click  of  glasses,  and  knew  that  a  party  of 
officers  were  dining  with  their  chief.  While  I  thought 
grimly  of  that  sickening  prison  and  of  the  lad's  death,  I 
heard  their  boisterous  laughter,  and  it  seemed  the  mock 
ery  of  fate.  Upon  the  table  in  the  hall  lay  a  couple  of 
ornamental  swords,  a  pair  of  gauntlets,  and  a  pack  of 
playing-cards,  and  by  the  door  stood  an  orderly  in  full 
uniform.  The  great  clock  on  the  stairs  struck  three 
before  the  order  came  for  me  to  move.  Then  a  young 
officer  came  from  the  dining-room,  and  directed  my 
guard  to  bring  me  before  the  general. 

We  passed  through  two  rooms,  and  entered  the  con 
servatory,  where  I  found  both  the  Howes.  They  were 
surrounded  by  plants  and  a  few  bright  flowers,  enough 
to  sweeten  the  air  with  their  fragrance.  Lord  Howe  was 
standing  in  the  background,  seemingly  uninterested. 
Like  the  general,  he  was  swarthy,  and  it  was  said  that 


GENERAL  HOWE.  337 

his  profile  was  strikingly  like  that  of  his  grandfather 
George  the  First;  the  Howes  being,  by  illegitimate 
descent,  uncles  of  the  king.  General  Howe  sat  facing 
me,  his  elbow  on  the  arm  of  his  chair  and  his  chin  sup 
ported  by  his  hand.  He  was  a  large  man,  six  feet  tall, 
and  of  coarse  build,  with  large  features  and  an  uncom 
monly  dark  complexion,  and  was,  by  reputation,  a  profli 
gate  and  a  gamester.  It  was  reported  that  he  loved  the 
faro- table  better  than  business,  and  gambled  away  his 
money  with  almost  as  much  recklessness  as  his  mistress 
spent  it ;  his  example  encouraging  dissolute  living  among 
his  young  officers. 

As  I  paused  before  him,  he  scanned  my  face  and 
figure  with  the  keen  eye  of  a  man  accustomed  to  deal 
with  men.  I  felt  that  he  was  forming  some  estimate  of 
my  character,  but  regarded  him  steadily  and  with  indif 
ference  to  his  opinion.  I  had  already  suffered  too  much 
to  expect  anything  but  evil  treatment  at  his  hands.  I 
saw  him  glance  at  my  simple  uniform  of  buff  and  blue, 
and  was  conscious  that  my  sojourn  in  prison  had  played 
sad  havoc  with  my  clothes  and  that  my  face  was  haggard. 
I  must  have  offered  a  great  contrast  in  my  appearance 
to  the  young  dandies  who  served  under  him.  Some 
locks  of  my  hair  were  loose  and  hung  upon  cheek  and 
forehead;  I  had  been  given  no  powder,  not  even  a 
ribbon,  and  no  doubt  looked  unkempt  and  wretched. 
It  may  be  that  he  had  seen  others  come  in  worse  con 
dition  from  his  prisons,  and  divined  the  cause  of  my 
disordered  appearance,  though  many  tried  to  shield  him 
and  said  that  he  knew  not  how  bad  it  was.  If  he  did, 
may  God  forgive  him  !  He  was  sleek  and  full  fed  enough, 
his  face  flushed  with  a  good  dinner  and  much  wine,  and 
his  dress  of  the  richest.  Lord  Howe  was  in  his  uniform, 
but  his  brother  wore  a  coat  and  small  clothes  of  black 


338  A    YANKEE    VOLUNTEER. 

velvet,  and  a  white  satin  waistcoat,  embroidered  in  rich 
fashion  ;  his  stockings  were  of  black  silk,  and  the  buckles 
on  his  shoes  of  the  largest  and  finest  design  ;  his  pow 
dered  wig  showed  elaborate  care  in  its  arrangement.  1 
had  left  the  soldier  fighting  for  his  cause  ;  I  saw  here  the 
soldier  of  the  king.  Great  was  the  contrast,  yet  I  envied 
not  the  state  and  display  that  I  beheld.  While  this 
passed  through  my  mind,  Mr.  Howe  viewed  me  in 
silence ;  I  think  that  he  was  not  wholly  unconscious  of 
the  comparison  to  be  drawn  between  the  two  camps. 
However,  he  broke  the  silence  at  last. 

"Your  name,  I  think,  is  Allen?"  he  said  in  a  calm 
voice,  neither  sharply  nor  authoritatively,  but  rather  in 
a  tone  of  interest. 

"  John  Allen,"  I  replied,  "  the  son  of  Judge  Allen  of 
Salem." 

"Judge  Allen?"  he  repeated  slowly;  "the  king's 
judge,  too,  as  I  take  it." 

Knowing  that  he  would  charge  my  father  with  treason, 
I  felt  my  cheek  burn,  but  replied  with  candor. 

"  Even  so,  sir,"  I  said ;  "  at  first  appointed  by  the 
King  of  Great  Britain,  but  now  a  member  of  the  Con 
gress  of  the  United  Colonies." 

"  Having,  however,  taken  an  oath  to  the  crown,"  he 
returned,  speaking  slowly,  "  and  being  therefore  a 
perjurer  in  breaking  it." 

"  Nay,  sir,"  I  retorted  hotly,  "  a  patriot  who  has 
S'rved  his  country  with  a  single  heart." 

"And  his  king?"  said  Mr.  Howe  dryly,  looking 
at  me  attentively,  as  though  he  weighed  me  in  a 
balance. 

"  He  has  ever  fulfilled  the  higher  duty,"  I  replied 
gravely,  "  to  the  King  of  kings." 

"You   are   something  of  a   preacher,   I    fancy,"    he 


GENERAL  HOWE.  339 

remarked,  "  but  you  should  remember  '  to  render  unto 
Caesar  that  which  is  Caesar's.' " 

"  Nay,"  I  said  coldly,  "  the  colonists  rose,  at  the 
first,  to  defend  their  chartered  rights  as  free-born  sub 
jects  of  the  king  ;  in  England  you  would  do  no  less." 

Lord  Howe,  who  took  no  part  in  the  conversation, 
uttered  an  exclamation  of  impatience ;  but  the  general 
on!y  laughed. 

"  We  will  not  discuss  this  matter,  Mr.  Allen,"  he 
remarked ;  "  you  are  now,  however,  in  a  position  to 
remember  presently  your  allegiance  to  his  Majesty.  I 
have  the  report  of  your  capture,  but  am  willing  to  hear 
your  story,  knowing  something  of  your  family.  What 
was  your  errand  so  near  our  lines?  " 

"  I  was  out  upon  a  reconnoissance,"  I  answered 
boldly,  "  and  had  the  misfortune  to  be  captured." 

He  smiled  a  little  at  my  answer,  and  then  turned  upon 
me  with  a  change  of  manner. 

"  You  are  a  brave  man,  Mr.  Allen,"  he  said  abruptly ; 
"  why  do  you  persist  in  this  misguided  course  ?  There 
is  no  reward  for  gallantry  in  the  rebel  camp,  while  the 
king  is  ready  and  willing  to  bestow  both  rank  and  for 
tune  upon  such  as  serve  him  truly.  Give  up  these 
tatterdemalions ;  give  your  sword  to  the  cause  of  your 
sovereign ;  place  in  my  hands  a  description  of  the 
Yankee  forces,  fortifications,  and  plans,  and  a  rich  reward 
will  be  yours,  besides  the  honor  of  serving  your  king." 

I  had  listened  in  silence,  and  now  looked  him  coldly 
in  the  eye. 

"We  Americans  have  ever  honored  the  name  of 
Howe,"  I  said  deliberately,  "  for  the  sake  of  your  gal 
lant  brother  who  fell  at  Ticonderoga.  I  never  thought 
to  hear  you,  sir,  offer  a  gentleman  a  price  for  his 
honor !  " 


340  A    YANKEE    VOLUNTEER. 

His  face  flushed  deeply,  and  he  remained  a  moment 
silent. 

"Is  the  service  of  your  king,  then,  without  honor?" 
he  asked  sharply. 

"  I  am  an  officer  in  the  army  of  the  United  Colonies," 
I  replied  calmly,  though  I  was  deeply  moved,  "  and 
I  acknowledge  no  allegiance  to  the  King  of  Great 
Britain." 

"  You  are  a  bold  fellow,"  said  Lord  Howe  suddenly, 
speaking  for  the  first  and  only  time,  "  and  need  rigorous 
discipline  to  teach  you  your  duty." 

"  He  does  not  realize  my  forbearance,"  his  brother 
remarked  dryly  ;  "  instead  of  the  jail,  which  is  the  lot  of 
traitors,  I  hare  offered  him  a  place  in  the  king's  service, 
and  he  is  blind  to  the  honor." 

"  Nay,  sir,"  I  cried  with  feeling,  "  you  have  rather 
offered  me  an  insult  which  I  am  helpless  to  resent. 
An  honest  man  has  no  price  !  " 

He  smiled  coldly,  and  summoned  the  officer  who  had 
brought  me  to  the  house,  calling  him  Captain  Ledley. 

"  We  will  give  you  time  for  a  little  reflection,  Mr. 
Allen,"  he  said  calmly,  "remembering  the  service  that 
your  father  once  rendered  the  crown  before  this  mad 
ness  overtook  him.  If  you  remain  obdurate,  you  will 
share  the  fate  of  all  other  rebels  against  the  king." 

I  bowed  my  head  gravely,  and  prepared  to  follow  the 
officer,  to  whom  General  Howe  spoke  apart.  As  I  left 
I  caught  the  words,  "  a  brave  fellow,  therefore  treat 
him  with  more  forbearance  than  the  other  knaves." 
His  subordinate  saluted,  and  then  conducted  me  from 
the  conservatory.  We  passed  through  the  house,  and 
mounting  our  horses  rode  back  to  the  heart  of  the 
town.  I  expected  to  return  to  the  sugar-house,  and 
rode  along  with  dull  indifference,  though  I  had  enough 


GENERAL  HOWE.  341 

to  think  of  in  the  interview.  I  was  ashamed  that 
General  Howe  had  dreamed  that  I  was  capable  of 
accepting  a  bribe,  and  was  at  a  loss,  too,  to  understand 
his  interest  in  me.  That  he  was  a  generous  man  and 
popular  among  his  followers,  I  knew,  but  he  had  never 
been  distinguished  for  any  forbearance  toward  the  colo 
nists.  Howbeit,  it  was  useless  to  seek  a  solution  of  such 
problems,  and  I  rather  let  my  mind  dwell  on  the  reverse 
side  of  the  picture.  I  should  receive  the  full  measure 
of  my  punishment,  doubtless,  and  I  thought  of  the 
hideous  deaths  in  prison  and  of  the  potter's  field. 
Thus  I  went  through  the  streets  unheeding  the  idle 
curiosity  that  had  before  annoyed  me,  and  so  absorbed 
that  I  nearly  passed  without  seeing  the  one  face  that 
looked  kindly  on  me.  We  were  riding  down  Broadway 
when  I  glanced  up  at  a  window  above  my  head,  and 
looked  into  the  eyes  of  Dorothy  Wayne.  It  was  mani 
fest  that  she  had  seen  me  long  ere  I  perceived  her,  and 
she  waved  her  hand  to  me,  her  gesture  being  one  of 
encouragement  and  hope.  It  was  but  a  glimpse,  yet 
the  sight  of  her  gentle  face  was  a  pleasure  to  me,  and  I 
went  on  with  better  heart.  A  friend's  greeting  in  mis 
fortune  is  doubly  dear,  since  there  is  then  a  greater  need 
of  kindness. 

We  rode  on  to  the  vicinity  of  the  Fly  Market,  where 
we  halted  before  a  plain  house  which  had  evidently  be 
longed  to  some  banished  Whig,  being  stamped  with  the 
great  R.  As  we  stopped  at  the  door,  a  burly  officer 
came  up  and  talked  sharply  to  Captain  Ledley,  pointing 
all  the  while  at  me,  and  I  heard  Ledley  say  that  he  had 
General  Howe's  orders,  yet  he  had  some  difficulty  in 
shaking  off  the  stranger.  Afterwards  I  learned  that  it 
was  the  same  Cunningham  who  so  brutally  abused  the 
prisoners,  and  that  he  had  no  wish  to  see  me  so  well 


342  A    YANKEE    VOLUNTEER. 

treated.  However,  Captain  Ledley  took  me  in  the  house 
to  a  small  but  decent  room  in  the  second  story,  and  I 
was  told  that  this  was  my  present  place  of  confinement, 
which  I  interpreted  to  mean  that  I  had  allowance  of 
grace  and  if  I  recanted  all  would  be  well.  On  the  other 
hand,  if  I  remained  obdurate,  I  should  be  sent  to  the 
sugar-house  again  or  to  the  Old  Provost,  where  other 
officers  of  our  army  were  confined  in  a  miserable 
fashion.  Knowing  my  own  resolution,  and  being  thus 
clearly  warned  of  the  inevitable  result,  my  reflections 
were  not  cheerful.  Presently,  being  left  alone,  I  took  a 
seat  by  the  small  barred  window,  and  looked  down  upon 
the  yard  below,  in  which  were  only  dead  leaves  and  a 
patch  of  bare  earth.  In  solitude  and  sadness  I  passed 
my  first  two  days  in  this  new  prison,  and  saw  no  one  but 
the  soldier  who  was  my  jailer  and  solitary  attendant,  and 
was  posted  in  the  outer  room  through  which  was  the 
only  egress  from  my  quarters. 


CHAPTER  XLII. 

DOROTHY   ONCE   MORE. 

GREAT  as  was  the  change  from  the  horrors  of  the  sugar- 
house  on  Liberty  Street  to  these  new  quarters,  I  yet 
found  my  situation  irksome  enough.  To  be  sure,  I  had 
here  a  fairly  clean  room  and  a  decent  bed,  but  I  had 
neither  pen  nor  paper,  and  my  isolation  was  complete. 
It  was  better  to  be  alone  in  the  poorest  cell  than  in  the 
crowded  limits  of  that  hideous  prison,  —  no  more  than 
a  pest-house, — but  solitary  confinement  has  its  own 
depressing  effect.  My  best  amusement  was  to  borrow  a 
newspaper  from  my  guard,  and  even  that  was  a  privilege. 
These  papers,  being  edited  by  Tories,  were  full  of  curious 
accounts  of  the  condition  of  our  army.  "  Such  a  miser 
able  lot  of  ragged  creatures  as  were  never  scraped  to 
gether  before,"  so  said  the  journal ;  and  it  went  on  to  tell 
of  Washington's  wild  flight  through  the  Jerseys,  saying 
that  it  was  doubtful  that  he  would  even  dare  to  halt  at 
Philadelphia.  Of  the  Congress,  these  editors  spoke  also 
with  much  contempt,  announcing  that  the  pestiferous 
rebels  were  scared  beyond  all  reason  and  that  the  in 
surrection  would  soon  come  to  a  miserable  end.  I  found 
some  grim  amusement  in  reading  these  accounts,  mar 
velling  not  a  little  that  sane  men  should  write  them,  even 
in  malice ;  surely,  they  could  deceive  no  one,  therefore 
they  were  as  unprofitable  as  they  were  silly.  Poor  read 
ing,  too,  for  a  man  who  was  closely  penned  within  four 
walls  and  with  no  outlook  but  a  barren  patch  of  earth 
and  the  rear  of  other  houses.  It  was  true  that  I  could 


344  A    YANKEE    VOLUNTEER. 

see  the  sky,  and  in  watching  that  found  my  greatest 
comfort.  I  was  provided  with  no  fire,  and  found  but 
cold  comfort  in  my  cheerless  quarters.  I  reflected,  too, 
that  all  this  was  but  the  preliminary  to  more  rigorous 
treatment  when  they  found  that  their  designs  against  my 
honor  were  futile.  It  made  my  cheek  hot,  even  in  my 
solitude,  to  think  that  General  Howe  had  dared  to  so 
insult  me.  An  obscure  soldier  I  might  be,  but  at  least 
I  had  endeavored  to  do  my  plain  duty,  and  surely  had 
not  merited  so  gross  a  suspicion.  I  was  at  a  loss  to  un 
derstand  why  I  should  be  treated  with  more  charity  than 
others  who  deserved  fully  as  much  lenity  as  I.  It  was 
not  until  later  that  I  knew  who  had  sued  for  favor  for  me. 

It  was  the  third  day  of  my  captivity  in  the  new 
quarters,  yet  so  weary  had  been  the  hours  that  it  seemed 
rather  the  thirtieth.  I  was  standing  at  my  post  by  the 
window  when  I  heard  voices  in  the  outer  room,  and  the 
guard  came  to  the  door  to  bid  me  come  forth.  I  obeyed 
readily  enough,  for  it  was  a  pleasure  to  go  beyond  the 
four  walls  of  my  jail.  To  my  great  joy  I  saw,  standing 
in  the  center  of  the  room,  Dorothy  Wayne  and  her  black 
slave  Jason.  So  happy  was  I  to  see  these  two  friends 
that  I  took  no  heed  of  the  soldier,  who  remained  a 
silent  spectator  of  the  scene. 

"This  is  good  of  you,  Miss  Wayne,"  I  said,  taking 
her  slender  hand  in  both  my  own ;  "  they  told  me  that 
a  prisoner  could  have  no  visitors." 

She  looked  at  me  with  gentle  kindness  and  cheerful 
ness  in  her  brown  eyes,  but  I  think  she  saw  that  I  was 
pale  and  haggard ;  captivity  had  told  sharply  upon  one 
accustomed  to  active  life  in  the  open  air. 

"  It  is  true  that  visitors  are  forbidden,"  she  replied 
quietly,  "  but  Mr.  Howe  has  permitted  me  to  see  you,  at 
my  earnest  entreaty." 


DOROTHY  ONCE  MORE.  345 

Then  suddenly  it  came  to  me  that  she  had  been  an 
intercessor  for  me. 

"  It  is  to  you  that  I  owe  my  treatment  here,  then?  "  I 
said  quickly. 

For  the  moment  she  was  disconcerted  ;  she  was  one 
who  never  sought  thanks  for  any  good  deed,  but  rather 
delighted  to  bestow  her  benefits  unsuspected. 

"  It  was  you,  I  see,"  I  continued  quietly,  "  and  I 
thank  you.  But  I  should  be  happy  to  have  escaped  the 
offer  that  Mr.  Howe  made  to  me." 

She  looked  up  in  surprise,  and  I  saw  that  she  was 
ignorant  of  the  insult. 

"  I  know  not  what  you  mean,"  she  said  gently ;  "  I 
hoped  that  he  would  forbear  to  say  aught  to  you  that 
would  be  unwelcome. 

"We  will  not  speak  of  it,  Dorothy,"  I  answered 
kindly ;  "  my  case  is  but  the  fortune  of  war." 

She  glanced  at  me  inquiringly,  and  her  face  flushed ; 
an  intuition  told  her  that  I  had  been  insulted,  and  her 
quick  sympathy  brought  the  blood  to  her  temples. 

"  Grieve  not  for  it,"  I  said,  seeing  her  embarrassment, 
"  but  rather  tell  me  some  tidings,  since  I  perish  here  in 
ignorance  of  all  that  passes.  First,  how  fares  it  with 
your  grandparents? " 

"  Both  are  well,"  she  answered,  "  and  greatly  dis 
tressed  for  you.  Other  tidings  I  have  but  few.  But  I 
have  an  errand  that  I  must  discharge  at  once,  since  they 
have  limited  my  time." 

She  glanced  at  the  sentry,  who  stood  leaning  against 
the  door,  watching  us  with  stolid  indifference.  Every 
word  that  passed  could  be  heard  by  him,  every  move 
ment  seen ;  but  there  was  no  redress. 

"  If  you  have  any  good  tidings,  tell  me,"  I  said  sadly, 
'•  for  they  will  be  welcome  in  this  prison." 


346  A    YANKEE    VOLUNTEER. 

"  Nay,"  she  replied,  smiling  a  little;  "this  is  scarcely 
in  the  nature  of  tidings.  I  have  not  told  Miss  Joyce 
Talbot  of  your  capture  ;  she  knows  nothing  of  it.  I  for 
bore  because  I  knew  not  what  would  be  the  outcome  of 
it.  I  will  try  to  bring  her  here,  if  they  will  let  me,  if  you 
are  willing  to  trust  the  errand  to  me." 

At  the  thought  of  seeing  Joyce,  the  narrow  room  no 
longer  seemed  so  miserable  a  prison,  and  I  looked  with 
gratitude  upon  the  sweet  face  of  the  woman  who  was 
ever  so  thoughtful  of  the  happiness  of  others. 

"  Gladly  do  I  trust  you,"  I  replied  ;  "  but  tell  me 
how  it  fares  with  her  since  Dick  left  them  here 
alone?" 

She  grew  grave  in  the  instant,  but  answered  with  a 
cheerful  manner. 

"  There  has  been  some  feeling,  some  estrangement," 
she  said,  "  and  that  is  not  unnatural,  but  they  have  been 
treated  kindly  by  all  those  who  deserve  regard.  They 
live  now  in  close  seclusion,  and  thus  it  is  that  she  is  un 
conscious  of  your  imprisonment.  It  may  be  that  I  can 
not  obtain  permission  to  bring  her  here,  but  it  will  be 
my  earnest  endeavor." 

"How  is  it,"  I  asked,  "that  you  can  obtain  so  much 
from  General  Howe  ?  " 

"  General  Howe,"  she  replied  ;  "  as  you  know,  has  an 
old  acquaintance  with  my  grandfather  :  his  brother,  who 
fell  upon  the  shores  of  Lake  Champlain,  was  once  ill  in 
our  house,  and  greatly  loved  my  grandparents.  Nay," 
she  added  frankly,  "  I  know  you  thought  me  a  turncoat, 
but  it  is  not  true.  Sir  William  knows  me  to  be  as  great 
a  rebel  as  the  best  of  you,  yet  he  tolerates  my  errands  of 
mercy.  It  is  my  duty — and  my  pleasure  —  to  visit  the 
sick  and  the  prisoners,  when  I  can  obtain  the  leave  to  do 
it ;  but  that  is  not  often." 


DOROTHY  ONCE  MORE.  347 

"Ay,"  I  said  gently,  "a  sister  of  mercy  thou  art, 
Dorothy,  and  as  such  I  ever  think  of  thee." 

She  was  more  moved  at  these  words  than  ever  I  had 
seen  her,  and  tears  came  into  her  brown  eyes.  Her  lips 
trembled,  too,  but  she  controlled  hersejf,  having  wonder 
ful  self-command  for  a  girl  so  quiet  and  gentle.  After  a 
brief  pause  she  turned  again  to  me  with  her  calm  manner 
quite  restored,  and  scanned  my  face  with  a  'kindly, 
anxious  glance. 

"  You  are  not  well,"  she  said  in  a  low  voice ;  "  I  can 
see  lines  both  of  weariness  and  illness  on  your  face ;  you 
are  nearly  as  pale  as  when  you  lay  so  ill  with  your 
wounds." 

I  told  her  that  my  wounds  yet  troubled  me  a  little, 
and  that  the  prison  air  suffocated  a  soldier,  but  I  spoke 
not  of  the  fearful  sugar-house. 

"You  were  disobedient  to  your  physician's  orders,  I 
fear,"  she  said  reproachfully,  "  else  the  old  wounds 
would  not  trouble  you  so  much.  You  were  too  soon  in 
the  saddle." 

"  Not  soon  enough  for  my  own  wishes  or  my  duty," 
I  answered,  smiling ;  "  you  cannot  keep  a  soldier  upon 
an  invalid's  couch." 

"  Alas,  no,"  she  admitted  with  a  sigh,  "  and  I  had  no 
power  to  persuade  you  to  be  careful.  It  is  the  office  of 
some  one  we  know,"  she  added  archly ;  "  and  had  she 
seen  you  as  I  did,  sure  am  I  that  she  would  have  for 
bidden  you  the  saddle  for  many  a  long  day." 

"  Now,  truly,  I  think  that  I  ought  to  have  obeyed  you 
from  gratitude,  Dorothy,"  I  answered  heartily;  "you 
make  me  out  an  ungrateful  fellow  enough.  I  had  no 
choice ;  I  would  have  been  a  poltroon  to  have  stayed 
behind  when  so  much  was  at  stake." 

"  A  poltroon  you  could  be   never ! "   she   answered 


348  A    YANKEE    VOLUNTEER. 

with  spirit,  "  but  you  are  a  slave  to  duty.  It  is  well  to 
be  so,  perhaps ;  but  yet  you  must  remember  that  your 
life  is  worth  much  to  —  us  all." 

"  And  worth  more  to  me,"  I  said  at  once,  "  since  I 
find  it  valuable  to  others.  Nay,  go  not,  Dorothy,"  I 
added  entreatingly ;  "  these  prison  walls  were  dull  enough 
before,  but  now,  after  this  glimpse  of  daylight,  they  will 
be  intolerable." 

But  she  shook  her  head,  and  drew  her  hand  from  my 
detaining  grasp. 

"  My  time  is  over,"  she  answered,  smiling,  "  and  you 
must  let  me  go  to  fetch  a  far  more  welcome  visitor." 

"  Yes,"  I  said  with  feeling ;  "  I  see  you  go,  as  ever, 
intent  to  benefit  others  by  your  kindness.  Truly,  Dor 
othy,  you  are  my  good  angel." 

At  this  she  shook  her  head,  laughing,  though  tears 
shone  upon  her  eyelashes. 

"  I  am,  as  I  told  you  before,  but  an  attendant  spirit," 
she  answered.  "  I  go  to  bring  the  good  angel ;  therefore 
fare  you  well,  Captain  Allen,  for  a  season." 

With  this,  she  left  me,  and  I  was  once  more  returned 
to  my  narrow  limits,  but  now  had  food  for  both  reflection 
and  hope.  The  thought  of  seeing  Joyce  had  never 
entered  my  mind,  because  I  saw  no  possibility  of  any 
communication  with  her,  and  the  unexpected  revival  of 
my  spirits  made  me  cast  all  my  depression  to  the  winds. 
I  was  now  filled  with  impatience,  and  started  at  every 
sound,  looking  for  her  coming  at  any  time.  Yet  the 
day  wore  on  and  night  fell,  and  she  came  not,  and  I  had 
to  nurse  my  disappointment  in  solitude.  The  morning 
brought  me  another  surprise  that  was,  however,  far  from 
pleasant.  I  had  been  in  charge  of  Captain  Ledley,  but 
now  a  change  was  made.  I  learned  of  it  from  the  guard 
who  attended  me,  and  it  was  rarely  unwelcome.  I  was, 


DOROTHY  ONCE  MOKE.  349 

for  a  few  days  at  least,  in  the  charge  of  Mr.  Beresford. 
So,  at  the  very  moment  when  I  hoped  to  see  Joyce,  I 
found  myself  in  the  power  of  my  rival.  He  had  the 
courtesy  to  forbear  to  intrude  upon  my  privacy,  but  none 
the  less  I  knew  that  to  him  Joyce  must  apply  for  admis 
sion,  and  at  his  hands  I  must  accept  the  privilege  of  an 
interview  with  her  or  perhaps  be  mortified  by  his  refusal. 
Yet  I  considered,  on  reflection,  that  this  he  could  not  do, 
if  Mr.  Howe  permitted  her  to  come.  However,  look  at 
it  in  what  light  I  would,  it  was  unpleasant. 


CHAPTER  XLIII. 

LOVE   IN   PRISON. 

IN  the  morning  at  last  Joyce  came.  I  was  closely 
confined  in  the  narrow  limits  of  my  prison  cell,  as  I 
called  the  room  in  which  they  kept  me,  and  the  door 
into  the  adjoining  apartment  was  securely  bolted  on  the 
outside.  But  the  wood  was  thin,  the  door  warped,  and 
the  sill  fallen  until  I  could  easily  hear  any  sound  upon 
the  farther  side.  So  it  was  that  I  heard  voices  in  the 
hall  beyond,  and  recognized  the  tones  I  loved  so  well.- 
I  started  up,  forgetful  that  I  was  a  prisoner,  and  tried 
the  door  only  to  awake  too  soon  to  my  condition. 
Meanwhile  I  heard  them  enter  the  other  room,  and 
Joyce's  voice  rose  clear  above  the  other,  a  man's, 
which  was  lowered  at  the  first. 

"  Nay,"  she  said,  "  I  do  not  seek  a  quarrel  with  you, 
Mr.  Beresford ;  it  would  be  my  misfortune,  since  we  are 
all  in  your  power.  But  can  you  blame  any  woman  for 
resenting  such  an  act  of  absolute  discourtesy?  I  would 
be  less  than  a  woman  to  endure  it !  " 

At  this,  not  knowing  what  had  happened  and  being 
minded  to  let  them  know  that  I  was  listening,  I  shook 
the  door  and  called  to  them  that  I  could  hear;  but 
neither  seemed  to  heed  me,  though  both  heard  me  well 
enough. 

"  I  intended  no  discourtesy,  Miss  Talbot,"  replied 
Beresford's  voice,  with  a  tone  of  injury;  "it  is  my  sworn 
duty  to  obey  my  instructions." 


LOVE  IN  PRISON.  351 

"  Pshaw  !  "  cried  Joyce,  with  her  old  imperious  man 
ner  ;  "  that  is  but  a  quibble  —  to  refuse  so  simple  a  re 
quest  is  absolute  tyranny  !  More,  sir,  it  is  an  insinuation 
that  you  do  not  trust  my  word  —  freely  pledged  to  you." 

"  I  have  never  doubted  it !  "  replied  her  companion, 
hotly ;  "  I  would  gladly  comply  with  any  —  with  every 
request  that  you  could  make,  Miss  Talbot,  and  you  know 
it !  It  is  cruel  to  reproach  a  man  for  obeying  orders." 

"  I  cannot  believe  that  your  duty  requires  you  to  set  a 
spy  upon  me  !  "  she  exclaimed,  passionate  anger  in  her 
voice. 

"  Now,  by  heaven  !  "  he  cried,  "  this  is  too  bad  !  As 
if  I  could  desire  it,  or  wish  it !  What  have  I  to  learn? 
I  know  you  love  this  rebel  —  can  you  suppose  that  I 
wish  to  know  how  much  ?  " 

His  voice  quivered  with  emotion,  and  I  began  to  be 
lieve  that  a  man's  heart  beat  under  that  dandified  exterior. 

"  It  is  unnecessary  to  add  accusations  to  discourtesy, 
sir,"  retorted  Joyce,  still,  as  I  could  divine,  too 
angry  to  be  sure  of  what  she  said.  "  This  much  I  do 
know,  you  tell  me  that  I  and  my  maid  may  not  speak 
alone  to  Captain  Allen ;  that  one  of  these  common, 
curious  guards  must  stand  gaping  and  listening  to  a  con 
versation  between  —  old  —  friends." 

"  Why  not  say  lovers,  Miss  Talbot  ?  "  said  Beresford, 
bitterly. 

"  Lovers,  if  you  wish  it,  sir,"  she  returned  at  once. 

Again  I  knocked  upon  the  door,  but  there  was  no 
response,  save  the  heavy  tread  of  Beresford,  who  seemed 
to  walk  to  and  fro  in  the  other  room.  For  a  few 
moments  there  was  silence,  and  then  he  spoke. 

"Miss  Talbot,"  he  said  bluntly,  "  you  have  driven  me 
into  a  corner,  and  I  am  determined  to  give  you  your  way, 
though  it  may  cost  me  dear.  You  shall  see  and  talk 


352  A    YANKEE    VOLUNTEER. 

with  Mr.  Allen,  and  no  sentry  will  stand  in  the  room ; 
but  I  —  myself  —  will  guard  the  door  upon  the  outer 
side.  And  on  my  honor,  madam,  I  am  deaf  from  this 
moment." 

She  had  spoken  in  anger,  and,  I  think,  was  taken 
wholly  by  surprise,  for  she  began  to  thank  him ;  but  evi 
dently  he  would  not  listen,  but  unfastening  the  bolts, 
opened  the  door  for  me.  Then  silently,  saluting  us  both, 
he  turned  and  walked  from  the  room.  But  I  had  no 
longer  any  thought  for  him.  I  saw  only  Joyce  standing 
before  me ;  at  the  moment  I  did  not  even  heed  her 
woman,  who  stood  at  the  window  with  her  back  discreetly 
turned.  Neither  of  us  thought  of  her  for  the  time,  nor 
of  any  one  but  each  other.  Tears  shone  in  my  love's 
blue  eyes  when  she  saw  me,  and  she  clung  to  me  an 
instant  weeping  before  even  she  remembered  that  we 
were  not  alone.  Then  we  stood  holding  each  other's 
hands,  like  two  children,  while  she  asked  me  how  I 
did,  and  grieved  because  I  was  pale  and  thin,  and  my 
coat  shabby  from  exposure  to  the  elements.  At  this, 
which  was  so  like  a  woman,  I  smiled. 

"  Happily,  Joyce,  a  coat  makes  not  the  man,"  I  said, 
"  else  would  our  army  be  without  any  hope,  since  a  coat 
among  us  is  a  rarity.  We  are  not  birds  of  gay  plumage, 
as  the  king's  soldiers  are.  Poor  and  ragged  and  unfor 
tunate  ;  but  we  will  conquer  yet  or  die." 

"  Alas,"  she  said  sadly,  "  that  is  brave  talk  for  a 
prisoner.  Dear  heart,  I  fear  you  cannot  win ;  the 
newspapers  tell  us  that  your  army  is  melting  away  and 
your  party  already  destroyed." 

"  You  read  the  Tory  newspapers,"  I  replied ;  "  verily, 
I  have  been  astonished  at  their  tidings.  They  know 
more  of  us  than  ever  we  knew  ourselves  !  These  are 
nil  idle  tales,  Joyce,  think  not  of  them.  You  have  not 


LOVE  IN  PRISON.  353 

yet  asked  me  for  Dick?"  I  added,  wondering  at  her 
silence. 

At  my  words  her  face  flamed,  and  she  looked  up  with 
an  expression  of  wounded  pride. 

"  Because  I  am  ashamed  to  ask,"  she  answered ;  "  I 
never  thought  to  see  my  brother  a  turncoat ! " 

"  I  remember  that  you  thought  me  one,"  I  answered 
softly ;  '•'  so  my  heart  goes  out  in  sympathy  to  Dick." 

"  You  are  a  rebel,"  she  replied  bluntly,  "  but  Dick 
Talbot  was  a  soldier  of  the  king  —  more  shame  to 
him  —  and  now  he  is  fighting  against  his  Majesty." 

"  And  for  his  country,"  I  rejoined.  "  Dick's  heart  was 
ever  ours,  I  believe,  but  he  followed  the  flag  under 
which  he  had  enlisted." 

"  Verily,  if  his  heart  was  yours,  he  knew  how  to  abuse 
you,"  she  said  hotly.  "  Never  was  there  a  more  violent 
royalist,  and  now  what  is  he  but  a  turncoat?  I  am 
ashamed  of  him." 

Knowing  Dick,  as  I  did,  I  was  not  unconscious  of  the 
truth  of  her  charges,  and  knew,  too,  how  she  hated  any 
surrender  of  a  principle  with  all  her  stout  little  Tory 
heart. 

"Joyce,"  I  said,  too  low  for  any  ears  but  hers, 
"harden  not  your  heart  too  much,  for  I  am  yet  a 
rebel." 

At  this  she  looked  at  me  a  moment  with  defiance,  and 
then  smiled  through  her  tears. 

"  Alas ! "  she  answered  as  softly,  "  I  fear  that  I  am 
but  a  poor  royalist,  since  I  can  countenance  such  trea 
son.  Oh,  John,"  she  added  earnestly,  "  what  evil  for 
tune  brought  you  here?" 

"  Nay,  not  evil,"  I  answered,  smiling,  "  since  it 
brought  me  to  you ! " 

Then  I  told  her  simply  of  the  unfortunate  reconnois- 
23  • 


354  A    YANKEE    VOLUNTEER. 

sance,  of  my  capture,  and  of  General  Howe  and  the 
Waynes.  At  this,  too,  I  remembered  that  Dorothy  had 
not  come  with  her,  and  asked  if  she  had  told  Joyce  of 
my  capture. 

"  Yes,"  she  answered  gravely,  "  and  yet  would  not 
come  with  me  ;  but  perhaps  you  know  the  reason  why, 
since  I  divined  it." 

But  I  could  not  tell  her,  and  she  only  looked  at  me 
and  smiled.  After  this,  we  talked  of  other  things,  and 
Joyce  hoped  and  prayed  that  I  would  be  speedily  ex 
changed  ;  but  of  this  I  had  less  hope  than  she,  yet  for 
bore  to  tell  her  so,  lest  I  should  bring  back  the  shadow 
to  her  blue  eyes.  She  asked  me,  too,  if  there  was  no 
hope  of  escape,  and  how  the  window  of  my  prison  was 
secured?  But  here  I  could  give  her  no  encourage 
ment.  The  irons  seemed  too  stout  for  any  file,  even 
if  I  could  have  used  one  without  arousing  the  watchful 
guard.  She  suggested  the  old  plan  of  bribing  the 
sentry,  and  that,  too,  I  rejected ;  for  I  did  not  believe 
the  man  corruptible,  since  he  seemed  both  honest  and 
resolute.  She  was  also  minded  to  bring  me  a  disguise 
and  let  a  servant  remain  in  my  place ;  but  this  I  knew 
was  impossible  while  Beresford  was  my  keeper,  and  I 
felt  sure  that  he  would  the  more  closely  watch  me 
because  he  loved  her.  It  fretted  my  spirit,  too,  to  have 
her  sue  for  any  favor  from  him,  and  I  told  her  so  ;  but 
she  was  incorrigible,  caring  only  for  my  escape  before 
General  Howe  ordered  me  into  closer  confinement. 

"They  might  send  you  to  the  Old  Provost,"  she 
cried,  clasping  her  hands  about  my  arm  in  sudden 
horror ;  "  there  it  is  that  they  send  the  officers,  —  they 
do  not  recognize  them  as  such,  —  and  I  have  heard 
that  it  is  horrible.  I  know,  too,  that  the  Middle  Dutch 
church  and  the  sugar-houses  are  crowded  with  rebel 


LOVE  IN  PRISON".  355 

prisoners,  and  it  is  said  that  there  is  much  suffering  and 
illness  and  scarcity  of  food.  Oh,  John,  we  must  get 
you  out  —  I  will  go  to  Mr.  Howe  myself —  he  is  not 
cruel  —  he  —  " 

At  this  I  took  her  hands  firmly  in  mine,  and  looked 
her  straight  in  the  eyes,  trying  to  calm  her. 

"  Joyce,"  I  said  gravely,  "  you  will  not  go  to  General 
Howe  for  me.  That  I  am  resolved.  You  shall  not 
plead  for  favors  for  me,  especially  when  they  are  sore 
displeased  at  your  brother.  The  general  would  not  listen 
to  you,  nor  would  Lord  Howe.  Never  shall  you  be 
mortified  for  my  sake.  If  you  care  for  me  - —  ever  so 
little  —  you  will  obey  my  earnest  wish.  I  will  not  accept 
freedom  on  the  terms  that  you  could  get  it  for  me  !  " 

At  the  first  she  was  inclined  to  protest  at  this,  but 
as  I  went  on  so  earnestly,  she  began  to  understand,  I 
think,  the  delicacy  of  her  own  position ;  but  I  saw  that 
something  fretted  her,  and  she  drew  her  hands  away 
from  me  and  her  cheeks  flushed. 

"  Then  Dorothy  Wayne  must  intercede,"  she  said 
coldly.  "You  will  be  happy  to  commit  your  cause 
to  her ;  she  also  is  a  rebel ! " 

Now,  this  sudden  outburst  astonished  me,  and  then 
it  came  into  my  mind  that  she  was  jealous.  Joyce  ! 
The  thought  that  the  one  woman  that  I  loved  was  jealous 
of  any  other  filled  me  with  amazement,  and  then  I 
smiled.  Surely  she  loved  me,  since  without  love  there 
can  be  no  jealousy.  So  I  caught  her  hands  in  mine  once 
more,  and  kissed  them,  unmindful  of  the  woman,  who  still 
looked  steadily  out  at  the  window. 

"  Is  it  not  natural,"  I  said  softly,  « that  I  had  rather 
Dorothy  bore  the  trial  than  my  Joyce  ?  " 

"Nay,"  Joyce  said,  half  angrily;  "the  woman  who 
loves  most  should  do  the  most." 


356  A    YANKEE    VOLUNTEER. 

"  In  that  case,"  I  whispered  joyfully,  "  I  wish  that  I 
could  let  you  do  it,  that  I  might  be  assured  of  your 
love." 

She  relented  at  my  tone,  her  eyes  sank  before  my 
glance,  and  she  smiled  a  little  in  spite  of  herself. 

"You  do  not  deserve  it,"  she  declared  with  spirit, 
"or  you  would  not  doubt  it,  now  that  I  am  here." 

"  You  are  a  witch,"  I  answered  softly,  "  and  I  cannot 
always  believe  in  my  own  happiness  when  you  frown, 
and  I  remember,  too,  that  I  am  a  rebel  in  your  eyes." 

"  A  rebel ;  "  she  said,  and  looked  at  me  with  a  new 
tenderness  in  her  face,  "  a  prisoner,  pale  and  worn  and 
with  a  shabby  coat  —  and  yet  —  my  love." 

At  this  I  kissed  her  again,  while  the  maid  leaned  out 
of  the  window  and  looked  on  the  street  below.  For  a 
little  while  —  how  brief  only  a  lover  knows  —  we  talked 
together  of  the  past,  the  old  days  in  the  orchard  and  by 
the  sea,  and  forgot  the  king  and  the  country  and  the 
cause,  while  love  was  king.  Did  ever  two  who  loved 
each  other  remember  so  dull  a  thing  as  politics  at  such 
a  time?  Verily,  not  Joyce  and  I ;  and  I  do  think  that 
we  were  much  like  other  lovers  all  the  world  over. 
Howbeit,  our  paradise  could  not  long  endure;  time 
spared  us  not,  and  Joyce  could  stay  no  longer.  Sharp 
was  the  pain  of  parting ;  she  could  not  bear  to  leave  me 
in  so  poor  a  place,  and  I  could  not  endure  the  thought 
of  letting  all  my  sunshine  go.  She  clung  to  me  with 
tears,  and  I  half  rejoiced  at  my  plight  since  it  had  won 
her  to  her  tenderest  mood.  So  at  last  we  parted,  and 
I  saw  her  go  as  the  guard  returned  to  secure  my  prison 
door.  Before  it  closed  upon  me,  though,  I  heard 
Beresford's  voice  address  her,  and  knew  that  he  was  in 
the  hall,  and  I  was  mean  enough,  for  the  moment,  to 
hate  him  for  being  there.  He  was  free  to  attend  her,  to 


LOVE  IN  PRISON.  357 

extend  a  hundred  courtesies  in  this  time  of  trial,  and  I, 
who  should  have  aided  her,  was  mewed  up  in  a  prison. 
It  was  well  for  him,  and  for  me  also,  that  he  came  not 
to  see  me  on  that  day,  for  I  could  scarce  have  treated 
him  with  civility,  and  yet  I  owed  him  much,  since  he  had 
taken  away  the  guard  at  the  interview.  But  was  ever  a 
jealous  lover  grateful,  and  grateful  to  his  rival?  I  tried 
not  to  believe  myself  jealous  then,  but  thought  that  I 
pitied  him  because  he  loved  Joyce  in  vain.  Yet  all  the 
while,  in  my  mind,  I  saw  him  going  home  with  her,  free 
to  attend  her,  while  I  was  his  prisoner. 


CHAPTER  XLIV. 

EPHRAIM    WEARS    THE     KING'S    UNIFORM. 

AFTER  Joyce's  visit  came  some  long  blank  days  when 
I  saw  no  one  but  my  guard,  and  heard  no  voice  of 
sympathy  or  friendship.  I  was  threatened  with  removal 
to  the  Old  Provost,  but  it  came  not.  Happily  for  me, 
the  Waynes  stood  as  intercessors  for  my  good  treatment, 
and  I  suffered  little  inconvenience  save  from  cold,  and 
from  poor  and  scanty  food ;  but  after  the  sugar-house  I 
could  well  endure  such  small  privations.  My  saddest 
thoughts  were  those  that  dwelt  on  the  poor  fellows 
penned  in  the  hideous  prisons,  and  dying  in  misery 
and  squalor.  I  had  forborne  to  tell  either  Dorothy  or 
Joyce  of  the  misery  of  those  days  in  the  pest-house,  since 
it  was  of  no  avail  to  wound  their  tender  hearts.  They 
learned  but  too  soon  the  horrors  of  the  gloomy  sugar- 
houses  where  the  prisoners  were  chained  and  starv 
ing,  and  of  the  Old  Provost,  where  at  one  time  they 
were  so  packed  in  that,  lying  on  the  floor  to  sleep,  it  was 
said,  they  could  only  turn  over  all  together  at  the  word 
of  command.  This  is  true,  as  I  believe,  and  no  fable  ; 
and  the  sentinels  threatened  to  shoot  down  the  chari 
table  who  offered  alms  to  those  who  came  to  the  barred 
windows  of  the  church  prisons.  In  Wallabout  Bay  was 
that  pestilent  old  gun-ship,  the  Jersey,  where  our  poor 
fellows  of  the  rank  and  file  lay  in  all  seasons,  unsheltered, 
without  minister  or  physician,  and  so  died,  and  were 
buried  on  the  shores  of  Long  Island.  Truly,  therefore, 


Et'HRAIM   WEARS   THE  KING'S  UNIFORM.     359 

I  had  no  cause  of  complaint,  though  the  confinement 
and  the  solitude  were  bitter  enough  to  an  active  man. 
As  the  days  went  on,  I  lost  hope  of  an  early  exchange 
for  myself,  and  mourned  bitterly  the  fate  that  kept  me 
closely  caged  when  every  man  was  needed  to  fight. 
No  tidings  came  to  me,  and  I  could  only  torment  myself 
with  'imagining  the  fortunes  of  the  Continental  army. 
Knowing  the  destitute  condition  of  the  men,  and  that 
some  who  were  yet  enlisted  for  short  periods  would 
soon  go  to  their  homes,  I  could  scarce  think  of  the 
matter  with  hope.  A  prison  soon  destroys  hopefulness 
in  the  heart  and  depresses  the  most  buoyant  spirit. 
I  thought,  too,  of  my  father,  whom  I  had  not  seen  for  so 
long  a  time,  and  could  easily  picture  his  anxiety  and 
sorrow  for  me.  Greatly  did  I  long  for  the  sea  ;  penned 
within  four  walls,  my  heart  hungered  for  the  ocean,  and 
when  I  closed  my  eyes  at  night,  I  saw  the  wide  sweep 
of  the  waves  in  Massachusetts  Bay,  heard  the  deep  roar 
of  the  surf,  and  fancied  how  the  gulls  were  darting 
through  the  flying  spray.  Far  off,  too,  when  the  clouds 
lifted,  there  must  be  a  golden  line  at  the  horizon,  where 
the  sky  and  the  water  met,  a  bright  and  shimmering 
line,  sharply  defined  by  the  gray  sea  below  and  softly 
by  the  drifting  cloud  above.  As  though  between  the 
two  deeps,  the  upper  and  the  lower,  one  saw  —  far,  far 
off — the  shining  gates  of  dawn.  In  those  dreams  I 
felt,  too,  that  the  salt  wind  was  smiting  my  cheek  as  the 
tide  came  in.  Oh,  I  was  hungry  for  the  sea,  as  those 
are  who  are  born  beside  it  and  who  crave  the  sight  of 
it  with  love  and  longing,  as  their  oldest,  truest  friend. 
From  these  dreams  I  awoke,  and  saw  only  a  room  that 
was  a  cell  and  through  the  bars  a  bit  of  heavenly  blue. 
So  the  days  passed  on  without  change. 

One  afternoon  I  heard  voices  in  the  yard  below  and 


360  A    YANKEE    VOLUNTEER. 

went  to  the  window,  as  eager  as  a  child  to  look  upon  a 
show.  Two  British  soldiers  were  talking  together,  and 
at  first  I  felt  only  disappointment  at  so  common  a  sight, 
and  then  my  attention  was  riveted  upon  the  taller  of  the 
two  figures.  But  for  the  scarlet  coat,  which  was  fresh 
and  new,  I  should  have  recognized  that  lank  form  in  a 
moment.  The  uniform  fitted  ill,  however,  and  not  even 
its  splendors  could  disguise  the  wearer.  I  knew  him 
before  he  turned  his  head ;  it  was  Ephraim  Minot.  I 
gazed  at  him  in  some  bewilderment,  scarcely  able  to 
believe  the  evidence  of  my  own  senses.  Yet  it  was  he ; 
I  saw  him,  I  heard  his  drawling  voice,  and  in  my  heart 
believed  him  a  knave.  I  remembered  his  intimacy  with 
the  Tories  at  Corbie's  Tavern,  and  for  a  little  while 
imagined  many  evil  things.  This  was  the  culmination  of 
his  treachery,  doubtless,  and  I  saw  him  in  his  true  colors. 
While  these  thoughts  were  in  my  mind,  he  looked  up 
and  saw  me,  but  stared  at  me  as  though  he  knew  me  not, 
and  I  turned  from  the  window,  feeling  only  regret  that 
one  who  had  seemed  so  honest  should  be  so  deep  a 
traitor.  Yet,  after  I  reflected,  my  heart  smote  me  for 
judging  him,  and  I  endeavored  to  see  some  way  out  of 
the  mystery.  When  my  supper  was  brought,  I  asked 
my  attendant,  who  talked  with  him  in  the  garden,  and 
was  told  that  it  was  an  honest  man  who  had  come  all 
the  way  from  Massachusetts  to  enlist  in  the  king's  ser 
vice.  Then  I  knew  that  for  whatever  purpose  he  had 
come,  Ephraim  had  donned  the  royal  uniform  with  a  lie 
in  his  mouth,  and  this  made  me  more  hopeful  of  his  sin 
cerity,  since  I  knew  his  love  for  such  maneuvers.  Yet 
was  I  not  wholly  satisfied  that  all  was  fair,  and  waited 
and  watched  with  no  little  curiosity.  The  thought  that 
he  had  come  to  gain  access  to  me  took  shape  in  my 
mind,  and  was  rejected  as  the  time  passed  and  he  made 


EPHRAIM  WEARS   THE  KING'S  UNIFORM.    361 

no  sign.  Neither  did  any  word  come  from  Joyce,  and  I 
began  to  believe  that  I  was  to  be  completely  isolated. 
But  it  is  ever  the  darkest  just  before  the  dawn. 

It  was  evening  when  my  release  came  at  last.  It  was 
storming  hard,  and  the  rain  dashed  on  my  window,  but 
there  was  no  wind.  I  had  sat  alone  so  long  that  I  began 
to  weave  my  fancies  into  dreams  of  freedom  on  the 
moors  of  Essex  County.  My  solitary  taper  was  burning 
low,  and  when  it  went  out  I  should  have  the  darkness  for 
my  company.  Presently  I  heard  a  step  in  the  outer 
room,  coming  more  quickly  than  my  guard  was  accus 
tomed  to  move,  and  the  bolts  went  back.  I  looked  up 
in  surprise,  since  it  was  unusual  for  any  one  to  come  at 
that  hour.  The  door  opened  now,  however,  to  reveal  the 
unmistakable  figure  of  Ephraim  Minot.  He  stopped 
upon  the  threshold,  for,  doubting  him,  I  fixed  my 
eyes  upon  him  coldly.  Howbeit  he  was  but  little  dis 
concerted,  and  in  a  moment  came  on  to  the  table,  where 
he  laid  down  a  bundle  and  stood  regarding  me  with 
composure. 

"  Well,  captain,"  he  said  deliberately,  "  I  thought 
you  'd  be  better  pleased  to  see  me  than  you  seem." 

"  Not  in  that  uniform,"  I  answered  sternly ;  "  you 
force  me  to  think  you  a  deserter." 

"  Well,  I  be  darned  !  "  said  Ephraim,  with  some  ap 
parent  amazement ;  "  I  should  think  that  you  had  known 
me  long  enough  to  believe  me  honest,  as  men  go." 

"  I  am  loath  to  think  otherwise,"  I  replied,  my  doubts 
of  him  departing  as  I  looked  at  his  shrewd,  honest  face 
and  the  kindly  twinkle  in  his  eyes.  "  I  hope  that  you 
can  tell  me  a  straighter  story  than  you  told  the  corporal 
yonder." 

At  this,  the  strange  fellow  smiled  a  little,  as  if  he 
enjoyed  his  own  ability  to  weave  a  fairy  tale. 


362  A    YANKEE    VOLUNTEER. 

"  I  came  here  for  you,  Captain  Allen,"  he  remarked 
calmly,  untying  his  bundle  and  revealing  a  scarlet  uni 
form  and  a  pistol ;  "  we  have  no  time  to  lose,  either.  I 
only  got  the  corporal's  place  for  an  hour  because  he  was 
ordered  out  for  other  duty;  they  trusted  me,  being  a 
simple  rustic  who  loves  the  king  —  hang  him  !  " 

"  What  is  this  gear?  "  I  asked,  pointing  at  the  scarlet 
coat,  which  he  was  shaking  out  and  looking  at  with  affec 
tionate  pride. 

"  I  stole  it,"  he  remarked  calmly ;  "  and  poor  enough 
it  is,  too,  but  I  calculate  that  it  will  fit  you  pretty  well. 
Get  it  on,  captain,  we  've  no  time  to  lose ;  I  've  got  a 
dory  tied  up  by  the  wharf,  and  it 's  one  chance  in  a  hun 
dred.  The  rain  has  driven  many  from  the  streets,  and 
there  is  a  ball  to-night  that  takes  all  the  officers  off  to 
dance,  except  those  who  are  drinking  and  gambling  at 
the  public  houses." 

My  heart  smote  me  again  for  my  mean  suspicions,  and 
I  laid  my  hand  upon  his  shoulder. 

"  Minot,"  I  said,  "  if  there  is  a  risk  for  you,  if  we  are 
likely  to  be  taken,  I  will  not  go.  They  would  hang  you 
in  the  morning." 

"  Put  on  the  coat,  captain,"  he  answered  dryly,  "  or 
they  may  hang  us  both.  There  is  a  clean  chance  for  the 
door ;  the  sentry  below  is  a  stranger,  and  knows  not  how 
many  guards  are  on  to-night  I  have  the  password,  but 
every  minute  counts." 

I  needed  no  further  urging,  and  in  ten  minutes  two 
British  soldiers  walked  down  the  stairs,  leisurely,  to 
awaken  no  suspicion.  Ephraim  gave  the  password  at 
the  lower  door  and  we  were  in  the  street,  and  I  felt  the 
rain  upon  my  face  with  the  wild  joy  of  a  man  who  has 
been  penned  up  like  a  beast.  But,  being  free,  I  had  but 
the  one  thought  to  see  Joyce  before  I  left  the  town,  yet 


EPHRAIM  WEARS   THE  KING'S  UMFORM.    363 

could  I  so  endanger  my  comrade  by  delay?  While  the 
thought  was  in  my  mind,  he  pressed  me  to  proceed 
more  rapidly,  for  we  were  in  the  vicinity  of  the  Fly 
Market  and  here  were  usually  many  officers  and  sol 
diers.  Then  I  informed  him  frankly  that  I  desired  to 
see  Miss  Talbot  before  I  left  the  place,  and  bade  him 
leave  me,  saying  I  would  join  him  later.  At  which  he 
told  me  that  she  was  privy  to  the  whole  scheme  of  my 
release,  had  bidden  him  tell  me  not  to  pause  an  instant, 
but  to  fly,  for  her  sake,  and  he  thrust  a  little  note  into 
my  hand.  I  could  not  read  it,  but  I  kissed  it  in  the 
darkness,  and  no  longer  hesitated,  reflecting  that  free  I 
could  serve  her,  and,  a  prisoner,  I  was  as  good  as  dead. 
We  walked  rapidly,  and  Ephraim  led  the  way  toward  the 
Battery.  We  had  thus  to  cross  the  town,  and  passed 
more  than  one  gay  company  upon  the  way  to  the  ball. 
Ladies  in  gaudy  attire,  with  waving  plumes  in  the  high 
white  structure  of  their  puffs  and  curls,  looked  out 
coquettishly  from  sedan  chairs,  their  faces  lighted  by  the 
lanterns  of  the  attendants  who  ran  beside  them ;  and 
twice,  in  the  narrow  way,  we  jostled  against  parties  of 
young  officers,  but  no  one  accosted  us.  It  was  too  com 
mon  a  sight;  two  soldiers  hurrying  through  the  streets 
upon  an  errand  was  an  hourly  occurrence.  So  we  came 
unhindered  to  the  river-bank  upon  the  Hudson,  and 
there,  above  the  Battery,  Ephraim  had  moored  his  craft 
at  a  moment  when  he  was  unnoticed.  We  paused  an 
instant  to  look  out  over  the  black  water  and  listen  ;  then 
we  were  startled  by  the  sound  of  steps  above  us,  and  the 
sharp  challenge  of  the  sentry.  He  was  some  yards  away, 
and  we  leaped  into  the  boat,  and  Minot  cut  the  moorings 
before  he  came  up  with  us.  He  challenged  us  again  as 
we  pushed  off,  and  then  fired.  But  the  night  was  dark, 
and  two  strong  men  pulled  the  oars,  and  the  boat  shot 


364  A    YANKEE    VOLUNTEER. 

out  upon  the  river.  Again  and  again  he  fired,  and  the 
flash  of  his  weapon  shone  red  in  the  night,  and  one 
bullet  struck  the  water  beside  us.  He  shouted  to  us,  and 
we  thought  he  called  to  some  one  for  aid  to  pursue  "  the 
knaves."  Howbeit  we  rowed  out  unharmed,  and  the 
night  enfolded  us,  and  after  a  moment  there  was  no 
sound  but  the  dip  of  our  oars.  Doubtless,  he  decided 
that  two  rebels  escaping  were  small  loss,  and  that  it 
would  be  to  his  detriment  to  betray  his  own  negligence. 
I  knew  not,  and  I  cared  not.  I  felt  that  I  could  sing 
for  joy  as  the  rain  beat  down ;  the  sky  was  above  me, 
and  the  river  lapped  against  our  boat.  So  we  pulled 
unharmed  along  the  waters,  and  came  at  last  to  Hoboken, 
and  leaving  our  little  craft,  leaped  upon  the  shore,  free 
men  and  safe. 


CHAPTER  XLV. 

A  DESPERATE   CHARGE. 

THE  morning  found  us  in  the  woods  at  Hoboken, 
where  we  were  forced  to  lie  concealed  until  twilight,  as 
the  Jerseys  swarmed  with  British  and  Hessians.  While 
we  sat  together  in  the  brushwood,  Ephraim  told  me  of 
all  that  had  happened  since  my  capture  ;  of  the  retreat 
of  the  Continental  army  to  Newark,  and  its  poor  condi 
tion.  It  now  mustered  scarce  five  thousand  men,  and 
the  Pennsylvania  levies  were  deserting  so  constantly  that 
guards  were  stationed  on  the  roads  to  intercept  and  drive 
them  in.  The  winter  was  advancing  rapidly,  and  the 
troops  were  ragged  and  barefoot.  The  whole  army, 
discouraged  by  defeat,  had  lost  heart  in  the  struggle,  and 
confidence  in  their  leader,  who  was  at  this  time  assailed 
by  petty  treachery  and  malice.  Lee  and  Gates  were  both 
plotting  his  overthrow,  aspiring  themselves  to  the  su 
preme  command,  and  their  criticisms  of  his  actions  were 
sowing  the  seeds  of  doubt  and  dissension.  I  saw  that  even 
Ephraim 's  cool  courage  was  somewhat  daunted,  and  verily 
we  had  but  little  cause  for  hope.  The  dreariness  of  the 
late  autumn  was  about  us ;  the  ground  was  strewn  with 
dead  leaves  that  rustled  sadly  in  the  cold  wind.  The 
only  thing  alive  was  the  scarlet-hooded  woodpecker 
above  our  heads,  drilling  the  bark  of  a  naked  tree. 

Lord  Cornwallis  had  crossed  the  Hackensack,  and 
there  seemed  little  hope  of  saving  the  Jerseys.  Dreary 
was  the  prospect  before  the  army,  and  difficulties  beset 


366  A    YANKEE    VOLUNTEER. 

our  own  journey  to  the  camp.  We  obtained  horses  that 
night,  and  so  advanced  more  rapidly,  but  were  in  constant 
anticipation  of  being  captured  again,  once  passing  through 
a  little  settlement  scarce  three  hundred  yards  ahead  of  a 
detachment  of  Donop's  Hessians.  But  no  doubt  our  red 
coats  did  us  good  service,  since  at  last  we  entered 
Newark,  safe  and  sound.  Right  welcome  were  we,  and 
even  his  Excellency  showed  his  hearty  pleasure  at  our 
escape  ;  nor  did  he  forget  to  reward  Ephraim  for  his  ser 
vice,  making  him  a  corporal  that  day. 

Dick  was  not  with  the  army  when  I  returned,  having 
been  sent  out  on  duty  with  a  small  detachment,  but  when 
he  came  back,  he  welcomed  me  with  warm  affection.  Since 
the  night  when  he  had  shown  his  heart  to  me,  there  had 
been  a  certain  tenderness  between  us  ;  at  the  sight  of  him 
I  thought  of  Joyce's  anger  at  his  fickleness,  but  forbore 
to  tell  him,  though  he  asked  me,  how  she  felt  toward  him. 
There  had  been  no  opportunity  for  the  exchange  of  let 
ters,  and  he  only  half  divined  the  anger  that  the  stout  little 
royalist  felt  at  his  desertion.  Happily,  our  talk  was  less 
of  that  than  of  some  way  to  get  Joyce  and  her  mother 
out  of  New  York.  He  had  written  a  simple,  manly 
letter  to  Lord  Howe,  asking  that  they  be  permitted  to 
depart,  but  had  received  no  answer,  nor  did  we  greatly 
hope  for  one.  The  chance  of  bringing  them  away  by 
stealth  remained  ;  but  this  was  fraught  with  danger,  nor 
did  it  seem  feasible  on  account  of  Lady  Talbot,  since  it 
would  probably  entail  long  and  hard  riding,  and  in  winter 
weather ;  yet  now  seemed  our  only  opportunity,  before 
the  Continental  army  was  forced  across  the  Raritan. 
This  was  not  only  possible  but  inevitable,  for  the  British 
were  pressing  on  in  great  numbers,  while  our  own  di 
minished.  So  we  plotted  together,  and  called  Ephraim 
to  our  counsels  ;  but  he  shook  his  head,  pointing  out  the 


A   DESPERATE   CHARGE.  367 

fact  that  my  too  easily  compassed  escape  would  arouse 
greater  vigilance  along  the  river-banks,  and  that  my  con 
nection  with  the  Talbots  was  known  or  suspected  by  the 
officers.  The  knowledge,  too,  that  Dick  was  in  our  camp 
would  make  them  doubly  watchful  of  the  Talbot  house, 
and  any  attempt  might  end  in  a  disaster  which  would  bar 
all  possibilities  of  escape.  Yet  I  would  not  surrender  my 
purpose ;  I  had  Joyce's  little  note,  written  in  haste  on 
that  night,  to  bid  me  speed  upon  my  flight,  and  its  tone 
was  one  of  sadness.  I  read  between  the  lines  and  knew 
that  their  lot  in  the  Tory  city  was  no  happy  one,  and  I 
was  not  minded  to  leave  my  love  to  the  poor  hospitality 
of  Mr.  Howe.  When  I  unfolded  my  grievance  to  Gen 
eral  Washington,  he  listened  to  me  with  more  than  his 
usual  kindness,  and  was  clearly  upon  my  side.  Doubt 
less,  he  felt  that  he  would  never  leave  one  of  his  dear 
ones  in  such  a  strait,  and  I  received  his  full  consent  to 
undertake  the  enterprise ;  he  permitted  me  to  take 
Ephraim  and  another  soldier  of  the  Massachusetts  Bay, 
also  allowing  us  horses,  though  he  warned  me  kindly  that 
the  effort  was  a  bold  one  and  full  of  peril ;  especially 
so,  since  it  seemed  now  inevitable  that  he  must  fall  back 
from  Newark.  So  close-pressed  were  we  by  the  enemy 
that  my  project  could  not  be  executed  at  once,  and  Lord 
Cornwallis  advanced  so  rapidly  that  we  were  compelled 
to  abandon  our  position  and  withdraw  to  New  Bruns 
wick.  Another  disaster  also  fell  at  this  time  upon  the 
Continental  army,  though  some  of  us  looked  on  it  as  a 
blessing  in  disguise.  This  was  the  capture  of  General 
Charles  Lee,  who  fell  into  the  enemy's  hands  at  Basking- 
ridge,  some  eleven  miles  from  Morristown.  He  owed 
his  capture  to  his  own  carelessness,  and  was  taken  while 
eating  his  breakfast  at  the  tavern,  having  but  a  small 
guard  with  him.  The  Philistines  made  great  rejoicing 


368  A    YANKEE    VOLUNTEER. 

at  this  capture,  since  they  counted  him  our  greatest 
general,  having  no  comprehension  of  the  qualities  of 
his  Excellency.  Nor  is  this  greatly  to  be  marvelled  at, 
since  our  own  people  grumbled  at  the  latter's  constant 
retreats,  seeing  no  wisdom  in  his  efforts  to  save  his 
poor  and  ragged  army  from  destruction.  I  do  remem 
ber  that  I  often  questioned  the  wisdom  of  his  move 
ments  myself,  and  fretted,  as  a  young  man  will,  for  great 
achievements. 

The  movements  of  the  enemy  had  disconcerted  my 
plans,  and  forced  me  to  be  inactive.  We  had  then  but 
little  hope  to  do  aught  but  rescue  the  army  from  the 
toils  of  Cornwallis,  since  we  had  been  forced  back, 
before  Lee's  capture,  from  New  Brunswick  to  Trenton 
and  thence  across  the  Delaware,  barely  saving  the 
whole  detachment.  My  prospects  of  reaching  Joyce  at 
that  time  seemed  forlorn,  and  Ephraim  took  the  oppor 
tunity  of  pointing  out  the  wisdom  of  his  argument ;  yet 
was  I  not  one  whit  shaken  in  my  resolution.  But  just  at 
present  there  was  no  prospect  of  success,  for  it  was  with 
difficulty  that  General  Washington  had  cut  through  the 
cordon  of  the  king's  troops  to  carry  our  army  across  the 
Delaware,  and  now  upon  the  opposite  banks  lay  the 
Hessians.  From  Bordentown  to  the  Black  Horse  was 
stationed  the  division  of  Count  Donop  and  Knyphausen, 
Lossberg  and  Rahl  were  at  Trenton,  while  the  rest  of  the 
enemy's  forces  were  cantoned  through  the  Jerseys,  form 
ing  an  effectual  blockade  between  the  Delaware  and  New 
York.  The  rapine  and  violence  of  the  Hessians  had 
made  them  a  terror  to  the  people,  which  did  us  much 
service,  by  rallying  the  yeomen  to  our  cause.  In  this 
province  they  had  shown  no  warmth  for  the  freedom  of 
the  colonies  when  confronted  by  the  King's  army,  but 
they  had  no  pleasure  in  seeing  their  hearths  violated  and 


A   DESPERATE   CHARGE.  369 

their  goods  confiscated  ;  so  violence  often  made  patriots 
where  sentiment  had  not. 

In  the  hour  of  confidence  comes  often  disaster,  and 
so  it  was  with  these  same  Hessians.  Rejoicing  at  their 
too  easy  success  and  confident  in  their  own  invincibility, 
they  grew  contemptuous  of  their  ragged  foes.  Then 
came  opportunity  knocking  at  our  door,  and  Washington 
was  not  slow  to  welcome  it.  We,  who  were  not  of  his 
counsels,  could  divine  nothing  save  that  he  was  mani 
festly  planning  some  assault  upon  the  enemy.  Dick  and 
I  waited  with  impatience,  for  inactivity  and  retreat  were 
alike  bitter  trials  to  us,  and  we  both  longed  to  cut  through 
the  lines  and  get  to  New  York. 

It  was  Christmas  Day  when  the  orders  came  for  us  to 
assemble  before  sunset  at  McKonkey's  Ferry  and  pre 
pare  to  cross  the  Delaware.  Joy  and  dismay  were  in 
the  hearts  of  many,  —  joy  at  the  thought  of  action,  dis 
may  at  the  prospect  of  a  long  march  at  such  a  season. 
Snow  lay  upon  the  ground,  and  ice  floated  on  the  dark 
waters  of  the  Delaware.  Toward  evening  the  wind  rose 
and  the  cold  was  biting,  yet  no  man  faltered  as  the 
detachments  formed  and  marched  along  the  river-banks, 
leaving  behind  them  a  trail  of  blood  from  bleeding  feet, 
for  the  men  were  without  shoes  and  ragged,  so  that  they 
indeed  seemed  "  the  tatterdemalions"  that  the  redcoats 
called  them.  It  was  the  day  of  peace ;  yet  peace  was 
not  in  our  hearts,  but  a  stern  resolution  to  do  or  die. 
Our  numbers,  Heaven  knows,  were  few  enough,  but 
we  lacked  not  the  spirit  of  endurance.  His  Excellency 
himself,  with  a  stern  countenance,  went  through  the 
lines,  giving  his  orders,  watching  all  with  his  tireless 
zeal ;  and  we  who  looked  on  his  face  knew  that  he  was 
resolved  to  make  a  mighty  effort  to  retrieve  the  fortunes 
of  his  army.  The  watchword  that  he  gave  us  was,  "  Vic- 

24 


3/0  A    YANKEE   VOLUNTEER. 

tory  or  death."  The  troops  were  to  proceed  in  three 
detachments.  One,  under  General  Putnam,  was  to  come 
from  Philadelphia ;  but  the  brave  old  man  was  forced  to 
remain  to  watch  that  city,  which  was  on  the  brink  of 
open  rebellion,  and  only  five  hundred  of  his  soldiers 
came.  Another  division  was  to  cross  at  the  ferry  below 
Trenton  ;  while  the  other,  under  General  Washington  and 
General  Greene,  was.  to  pass  over  at  McKonkey's  Ferry. 
We  knew  that  we  were  to  attack  the  Hessians  at  Trenton, 
and  were  the  more  impressed  with  the  importance  of 
our  errand  since  these  hirelings  were  so  greatly  dreaded 
by  the  colonists. 

Strange  was  the  scene,  as  we  waited  for  the  early 
darkness  to  fall  that  we  might  cross  the  river.  The 
barren  whiteness  of  the  landscape  over  which  the  wind 
swept  bitter  cold,  contrasted  with  the  black  waters  of 
the  Delaware,  while  overhead  the  great  clouds  began 
to  drift  again.  The  detachment,  not  fifteen  hundred 
strong,  stood  resting  on  their  arms,  the  trains  of  artillery 
in  the  rear,  and  in  front  Colonel  Glover's  brave  seamen 
of  Marblehead,  who  were  to  take  the  army  over  the 
perilous  river.  General  Washington  rode  up  and  down 
the  columns,  encouraging,  admonishing,  directing ;  no 
sign  of  his  anxiety  upon  him  save  that  calm,  stern 
manner  that  spoke  more  than  words.  Dick  and  I  stood 
together.  I  was  at  the  head  of  my  own  regiment,  and 
looked  about  me  at  the  ragged,  barefoot,  shivering  rustics, 
and  thought  how  deep  must  be  the  weight  of  care  upon 
the  general's  heart.  It  was  a  pitiful  sight,  too,  God 
knows ;  here  were  young  boys,  fresh  from  the  farm  or 
fishing-boat,  gray-headed,  weather-worn  veterans,  and 
strong  men  with  stern  faces,  all  so  forlorn,  so  exposed 
to  the  fury  of  the  elements,  but  trusting  simply — for 
they  were,  for  the  most  part,  religious  folk  —  in  a  higher 


A   DESPERATE   CHARGE.  371 

power.  Verily,  victory  would  never  have  come  to  such 
as  these  save  through  the  Lord  of  Hosts. 

It  was  twilight  when  we  began  to  cross ;  the  wind  was 
high,  and  the  current  strong,  while  floating  ice  was  every 
where.  His  Excellency  went  with  the  head  of  the 
column ;  with  great  difficulty  and  peril  we  came  over  to 
the  farther  bank,  and  there  took  our  position  while  the 
artillery  was  brought  over.  This  being  a  great  labor  and 
most  dangerous,  it  was  slow  and  tedious.  Hour  after 
hour  we  waited  on  the  bank,  nigh  frozen  in  the  biting 
cold,  and  yet  the  transports  were  not  wholly  landed.  I 
remember  how  we  walked  to  and  fro,  and  beat  our  hands 
against  our  breasts  to  keep  life  in  them.  One  poor 
fellow  froze  to  death  that  night,  and  how  pitilessly  the 
fierce  wind  blew !  The  thick  darkness  that  screened  our 
movements  was  fearsome  in  that  season  of  peril,  and 
through  it  came  the  shouts  of  the  officers,  the  cries  of 
the  men,  the  rumbling  of  artillery  on  the  frozen  ground. 
The  great  voice  of  Knox  sounded  like  a  trumpet,  through 
the  thick  of  it,  so  that  he  was  much  relied  on  for  trans 
mitting  orders.  The  tempest  rose  in  fury,  and  the  ice 
drove  down  the  river,  threatening  all  with  destruction. 
Stout  hearts  were  troubled,  and  the  weak  grumbled; 
but  no  man  dared  to  stay  his  hand,  for  we  knew  that  the 
general  stood  there  watching  all,  and  that  his  stern  soul 
was  set  upon  his  purpose.  Thus  it  is  that  one  man, 
being  great,  can  wield  an  army,  as  a  single  sword,  where 
with  to  smite  his  enemy. 

It  was  between  three  and  four  in  the  morning  when, 
the  whole  force  being  landed,  we  set  our  faces  toward 
Trenton.  We  were  to  make  a  circuit  by  the  Pennington 
road  to  the  north  of  the  town,  while  the  other  column, 
that  had  crossed  at  Howland's  Ferry,  was  to  meet  us  a.. 
Trenton  by  the  west  road,  nearer  the  river.  It  was 


372  A    YANKEE    VOLUNTEER. 

nine  miles,  and  we  could  not  reach  it  before  dawn ;  but 
it  was  now  too  late  to  retreat,  nor  could  we  leave  the 
other  column  to  its  fate.  The  tempest  had  burst  fiercely, 
and  snow  and  hail  swept  in  our  faces,  while  the  cold  was 
like  a  knife,  as  we  struggled  up  the  steep  hill  beyond 
the  river  and  then  down  to  the  road,  which  led  us 
through  a  forest  of  hickory,  ash,  and  black  oak,  where 
the  wind  howled  about  us  and  the  ground  was  slippery 
beneath  our  feet.  Yet  there  was  a  mercy  also  in  the 
storm  ;  the  heavy  snow  deadened  all  sound,  and  driving 
fast,  it  was  like  a  white  curtain  through  which  the  dawn 
ing  day  shone  dim.  Our  muskets,  however,  were  wet 
and  well  nigh  useless,  and  there  were  murmurs  on  this 
account ;  but  the  order  soon  came  sharp  and  short : 
"  Advance  and  charge."  There  was  no  alternative  then 
but  the  bayonet.  I  pressed  forward,  and  was  close  to 
his  Excellency,  who  came  first  to  the  outskirts  of  the 
town.  It  was  eight  o'clock,  and  by  the  wayside  a  rustic 
was  cutting  wood.  Washington  asked  him  the  direction 
to  the  Hessian  picket,  receiving  but  a  surly  answer  until 
an  officer  cried  out  that  it  was  his  Excellency.  The 
countryman  dropped  his  hatchet,  and  with  a  changed 
face  raised  his  hands  toward  heaven. 

"  God  bless  and  prosper  you  !  "  cried  he  ;  "  the 
picket  is  in  that  house,  and  the  sentry  stands  near  that 
tree." 

Then  came  our  orders  to  dislodge  the  picket,  and  we 
of  the  advance  guard  marched  forward  at  double  quick. 
We  took  them  by  surprise,  and  well  nigh  trapped  them, 
like  rats  in  a  hole.  Making  but  little  sound  upon  the 
snow,  we  were  upon  them  ere  they  could  rally.  We 
heard  the  shout  "  Der  Feind  !  "  and  then,  as  we  dashed 
forward,  came  wild  cries,  "  Heraus,  heraus  !  "  At  the 
first  they  stood,  a  moment,  to  their  arms  and  then 


A   DESPERATE   CHARGE.  373 

broke  wildly,  and  we  drove  them  in.  There  was  a  party 
behind  them,  to  support  the  picket ;  but  this  also  broke 
before  our  impetuous  assault.  On  we  charged,  driving 
them  before  us,  and  in  the  thick  tumult  we  could  hear 
the  drums  beating  the  alarm,  and  in  the  town  the  trum 
pets  of  the  light  horse  blew. 


.CHAPTER  XLVI. 

THE   SUN  SHINES  THROUGH   THE   CLOUDS. 

THE  Hessians  fell  back  behind  the  house,  firing  upon 
us  as  they  went,  but  offering  no  great  resistance,  doubt 
less  believing  us  to  be  in  great  numbers.  The  thick 
weather  favored  us,  making  us  seem  an  army,  and  we 
advanced  with  loud  cheers,  inspired  with  new  hope  at 
the  sight  of  their  confusion.  The  wildest  disorder  pre 
vailed;  men  rushed  from  the  houses,  as  if  distracted, 
while  others  fired  from  the  windows,  and  the  dragoons 
dashed  through  the  streets  without  apparent  purpose. 
But  when  we  came  to  the  main  street  we  saw  that  some 
Hessians  were  endeavoring  to  train  their  cannon  upon 
us,  and  a  battery  here  would  have  wrought  great  mis 
chief  in  our  ranks.  We  knew  that  the  main  column 
was  close  behind  us,  and  so  the  peril  was  the  more  im 
minent.  With  a  shout  we  dashed  forward,  led  by  young 
Captain  Washington  and  Lieutenant  Monroe,  and  drove 
the  artillerymen  from  their  posts  just  as  they  were  on 
the  point  of  firing.  Here  was  the  fiercest  fight,  and 
both  our  leaders  were  wounded.  One  stout  Hessian 
sprang  upon  me,  trying  to  knock  me  down  with  the 
butt  end  of  his  weapon ;  but  I  wrenched  it  away  and 
felled  him  with  it.  After  one  wild  moment  of  blood 
and  tumult,  we  triumphed,  and  the  guns  were  ours. 
While  we  stood  beside  them,  the  scene  was  past  all 
description,  the  rout  and  confusion  of  the  enemy  being 
complete.  General  Washington  and  his  column  were 


THE  SUA"  SHJNES  THROUGH  THE  CLOUDS.  375 

at  the  head  of  King  Street,  while  on  the  west  and  south 
charged  Sullivan  and  Stark.  Surprised,  caught  in  a 
trap,  and  terrified  by  our  imagined  force,  the  Hessians, 
who  had  endeavored  to  face  us,  broke  again,  and  fled 
toward  the  bridge  that  crossed  the  Assunpink.  I  saw 
Colonel  Rahl,  so  lately  famous  for  his  share  in  the  vic 
tory  at  Fort  Washington,  endeavoring  to  rally  his  troops ; 
but  he  appeared  as  bewildered  as  the  others,  reeling  in 
his  saddle  as  he  rode.  We  drove  them  through  the 
streets,  and  many  fell  at  once  into  our  hands  as  prisoners, 
though  others  died,  fighting  gallantly.  The  cries  of  the 
wounded,  the  crash  of  arms,  the  shout  of  victory,  all 
were  mingled,  and  about  us  lay  the  dead  and  dying. 

We  had  gone  on  in  pursuit  of  the  flying  Hessians,  for 
the  town  was  ours ;  our  battery  frowned  upon  the  main 
street,  our  soldiers  held  the  strong  positions,  and  in  our 
triumph  we  forgot  our  hardships.  As  we  charged  again 
beyond  the  town,  we  found  that  Rahl  had  rallied  his 
grenadiers  in  an  orchard,  and  he  came  rushing  back 
upon  us,  more  like  a  madman  than  aught  else,  since 
verily  he  came  but  to  his  death.  Bravely,  gallantly 
they  advanced,  these  Germans ;  but  we  met  them  with 
the  impetuosity  that  men  feel  when  flushed  with  victory, 
and  in  the  mel£e  Rahl  fell  from  his  horse,  wounded  or 
dead,  we  knew  not  which,  and  his  brave  troops  retreated 
once  again,  this  time  fleeing  along  the  right  bank  of 
the  Assunpink,  doubtless  meaning  to  reach  Princeton. 
I  shouted  to  my  men  to  follow,  and  charged,  just  as  a 
company  of  Pennsylvanians  cut  them  off  in  front  and 
the  Virginians  came  up  on  the  other  wing.  They,  the 
Hessians,  had  formed  as  though  to  resist  us,  and  our 
guns  were  trained  upon  them,  when  suddenly  some  one 
cried  out,  — 

"  They  have  struck  their  colors  !  " 


3/6  A    YANKEE    VOLUNTEER. 

It  was  true.  They  surrendered  at  discretion,  and  as 
we  came  up,  I  saw  tears  of  shame  on  many  a  war-worn 
cheek  ;  they  were  proud  of  their  great  record,  and  deeply 
mortified  to  yield  to  our  barefoot  and  ragged  men.  It 
snowed  not  now ;  but  all  the  scene  was  white,  save  for 
the  cruel  stains  upon  the  drifts  about  us.  The  Hessian 
columns  stood  dejected  upon  the  river-bank,  their  colors 
struck,  and  their  whole  appearance  suggesting  despair ; 
while  around  them  gathered  the  forlornly  dressed  but 
victorious  soldiers  of  the  Continental  army,  —  a  mighty 
contrast  and  a  pitiful  one.  His  Excellency  rode  up, 
with  the  glow  of  hope  and  triumph  on  his  face,  and 
received  the  sword  of  Colonel  Rahl,  who,  covered  with 
blood  and  white  as  death,  resigned  it  with  an  air  of  such 
deep  dejection  that  the  stoutest  heart  among  us  was 
moved  to  pity.  Our  commander  treated  him  with  the 
kindness  that  was  worthy  of  his  noble  heart,  being  ever 
generous  to  a  fallen  foe,  and  ordered  him  to  be  removed 
to  the  house  of  some  friend  whom  Rahl  designated ; 
aud  as  the  captive  was  too  sorely  spent  with  his  wounds 
to  walk  or  ride,  he  was  carried  with  both  care  and 
tenderness. 

The  rush  of  the  battle  being  over,  I  began  to  look 
for  Dick,  who  had  been  separated  from  me,  and  found 
him  not.  A  sudden  fear  overwhelmed  me  that  he  had 
fallen,  and  I  ran  back  to  the  town,  looking  on  every 
hand.  Wherever  I  saw  a  poor  fellow  lying  stretched 
upon  the  snow  I  stopped  with  beating  heart,  and  more 
than  one  I  knelt  beside  until  he  died  because  at  the 
sight  of  my  face  that  look  of  anguish,  that  appeal  for 
help  came  into  dying  eyes,  and  I  had  not  heart  to  leave 
the  passing  soul.  Not  yet  finding  Dick,  I  came  again 
to  the  main  street,  and  searched  among  the  dead,  where 
they  lay  thickest  about  the  cannon ;  our  own  loss  had 


THE  SUN  SHINES  THROUGH  THE  CLOUDS.    377 

been  small,  but  here  were  many  Hessians.  While  I 
was  thus  sadly  engaged,  I  looked  up  and  saw  Ephraim, 
and  called  to  him  for  news  of  Richard  Talbot. 

"  He  has  gone  to  the  house  where  they  have  carried 
Colonel  Rahl,"  Minot  replied,  "  I  saw  him  go  awhile 
ago." 

Perplexed  at  this,  I  lost  no  time  in  finding  the  way 
thither,  though  I  could  not  fancy  Richard's  errand,  since 
he  had  not  been  with  us  to  receive  the  orders.  Ephraim 
told  me  that  it  was  the  home  of  some  Quaker,  so  the 
people  told  him,  and  he  directed  me  to  the  door.  Here 
I  found  a  guard  of  soldiers,  and  no  little  stir;  it  was 
thought  that  Rahl  was  dying,  and  indeed  he  was  not  to 
linger  long.  The  street  door  stood  open,  and  the  hall 
being  full  of  officers  and  soldiers,  I  entered  without 
ceremony.  Within  all  was  hushed ;  death  and  sorrow 
had  both  entered  here,  and  even  our  own  men  pitied  the 
deep  misery  of  the  fallen  soldier.  To  him  was  due,  as 
it  proved,  the  loss  of  Trenton  and  the  capture  of  their 
colors,  and  he  took  it  deeply  to  heart,  preferring  to  die 
rather  than  live  and  face  dishonor.  He  had  been  in  his 
cups  the  night  before,  and  had  not  heeded  the  warning 
he  received,  that  we  were  coming.  The  greatest  faults 
of  the  king's  officers  were  their  love  for  drink  and  the 
gaming-table.  They  had  not  our  bitter  struggle  to  make, 
and  therefore  had  the  leisure  to  indulge  their  vices,  and 
gambling  was  at  that  time  very  fashionable. 

I  passed  the  guards  in  the  hall,  and  went  to  the  rear 
of  the  house,  searching  for  Dick,  and  seeing  no  one  of 
the  household  save  a  little  Quaker  maid,  who  fled 
affrighted  at  the  sight  of  a  strange  soldier  with  blood 
upon  his  clothes  and  all  dishevelled,  as  I  was,  from 
battle.  I  was  turning  back  disappointed,  when  suddenly 
a  door  opened  on  the  right  and  a  sweet- faced  old 


378  A    YANKEE    VOLUNTEER. 

Quaker  lady  stood  before  me.  Saluting  her,  I  asked 
courteously  if  she  knew  where  I  could  find  a  young 
officer,  Richard  Talbot,  who  had  come  there,  they  told 
me,  but  I  could  not  find  him,  and  feared  that  he  was 
wounded.  She  looked  at  me  a  moment  in  silence,  taken 
as  it  seemed  by  surprise,  and  then  amazed  me  yet  more. 

"  Thy  name,  I  think,  is  John  Allen  of  Salem  ;  is  it  not 
so?"  she  asked  calmly. 

I  answered  that  it  was,  but  could  not  hide  my  astonish 
ment.  Without  a  word  she  stepped  back  and  called  to 
some  one  in  the  room  from  whence  she  came,  while  I 
stood  alone  before  the  door,  sorely  bewildered.  Then 
sounded  a  dog's  quick  bark  of  welcome,  and  Laddie 
sprang  upon  my  knee.  Before  I  could  recover  from 
this  surprise,  a  slight  figure  came  suddenly  from  within 
and  ran  to  me  with  a  low,  joyful  cry. 

"  They  told  me  that  you  had  fallen ! "  Joyce  cried, 
and  fainted  in  my  arms. 


CHAPTER  XLVII. 

A   ROYALIST  SURRENDERS. 

HERE  in  Trenton,  in  the  Quaker's  house,  I  found  not 
only  Joyce  and  Dick,  but  also  Lady  Talbot  and  Dorothy 
Wayne.  While  the  household  attended  upon  Rahl,  we 
sat  together  in  the  quiet  room,  and  heard  the  story  of 
their  happy  escape  from  New  York.  To  Dorothy  they 
owed  it  all.  It  was  she  who  planned  it,  when  she  found 
how  both  Lady  Talbot  and  Joyce  mourned  at  being 
shut  up  in  the  town  while  Dick  was  with  us.  The  older 
woman  had  been  most  unhappy  at  the  change  and  sepa 
ration,  and  so  Dorothy  came  to  their  aid.  She  obtained 
an  escort  to  go  to  Trenton  to  the  house  of  these  Quakers, 
her  mother's  friends,  and  from  there  she  had  intended 
to  go  on  to  Philadelphia,  when  she  could  obtain  passes 
through  our  lines.  She  had  brought  my  love  and  Lady 
Talbot,  disguised  as  her  attendants,  fearing  Sir  William 
Howe  would  refuse  to  let  them  go,  for  he  had  not  for 
given  Dick  his  change  of  colors.  Thus  it  was  to  Dorothy 
that  I  owed  this  new  happiness.  The  whole  party  had 
been  delayed  at  Trenton  by  the  fearful  weather,  and 
had  witnessed  the  battle  with  mingled  hopes  and  fears. 
Dick  they  had  seen  upon  the  street  and  called  him  in, 
and  he,  it  seemed,  thought  that  I  had  fallen ;  a  soldier 
having  stopped  to  tell  him  that  I  was  slain  when  charg 
ing  the  cannon.  Joyce  had  overheard  the  story,  and  thus 
it  was  that  joy  overcame  her  at  the  sight  of  me. 


3 SO  A    YANKEE    VOLUNTEER. 

So  did  the  tumult  of  the  day  end  for  us  in  peace  and 
happiness,  while  in  another  room  poor  Colonel  Rahl  lay 
dying.  Verily,  in  the  midst  of  life  we  are  in  death,  and 
love  and  grief,  under  the  same  roof,  rejoice  and  weep, 
as  the  sun  breaks  sometimes  through  the  blackest  cloud, 
and  the  rainbow  shines  ere  the  storm  is  over. 

Trenton  was  ours ;  but  it  seemed  that  there  might  be 
small  fruit  from  this  victory,  since  the  whole  plan 
had  not  been  successfully  executed,  and  there  were 
enough  Hessians  in  the  Jerseys  to  do  us  much  mischief. 
General  Washington  decided  almost  at  once  to  quit  the 
town,  and  the  Hessian  prisoners  were  sent  off  to  New- 
town.  He  came  himself,  with  General  Greene,  to  see 
the  dying  Rahl,  and  gave  him  much  comfort  by  his 
promise  to  be  merciful  to  the  captives.  The  nobility 
and  the  generous  kindness  of  his  Excellency's  character 
showed  best  at  such  a  crisis.  We  all  loved  him  and 
venerated  him  the  more,  seeing  him  unmoved  amid  the 
jealousies  and  criticisms  that  had  assailed  him  most 
sharply  in  his  trials.  It  was  when  he  came  upon  this 
errand  of  mercy,  to  see  the  dying  foreigner,  that  he 
called  me  aside  and  told  me  kindly  that  my  gallant 
conduct,  as  he  was  pleased  to  called  it,  at  the  cap 
ture  of  the  enemy's  guns  had  made  me  a  major,  and  he 
congratulated  me  upon  my  elevation.  Good  fortune 
came,  too,  to  faithful  Ephraim  Minot,  who  was  promoted 
to  a  place  in  the  general's  own  body-guard ;  and  the  old 
green  coat  departed  at  last,  to  be  replaced  by  the  buff 
and  blue,  which  Ephraim  donned  with  a  pride  that  was 
the  more  amusing  because  unusual.  From  that  hour  he 
was  closely  attached  to  the  person  of  his  Excellency, 
and  served  him  to  the  end,  though  as  faithful  as  ever 
to  me. 

It  was  the  day  after  Colonel  Rahl's  death   that  my 


A    ROYALIST  SURRENDERS.  381 

father  came  to  Trenton,  and  we  had  the  joy  of  seeing 
each  other  once  more  after  our  long  separation.  I  had 
been  since  then  in  prison,  and  our  reunion  was  one  of 
great  happiness.  There  was  pressing  need  to  decide 
upon  some  course  in  regard  to  I-ady  Talbot  and  Joyce ; 
they  could  not  remain  so  near  the  enemy,  and  Dick 
agreed  with  us  that  it  was  best  to  take  them  to  Phila 
delphia.  We  accordingly  obtained  leave  to  escort  them 
thither.  Dorothy,  however,  would  remain  with  her 
Quaker  friends  and  presently  return  to  New  York,  being 
unwilling  to  leave  her  grandparents  for  any  length  of 
time.  Nor  would  she  come  to  witness  my  wedding, 
which  was  to  take  place  in  Philadelphia,  since  I  would 
delay  it  no  longer.  Joyce  had  not  consented,  at  the 
first,  to  so  hasty  a  marriage  ;  but  my  father  partly  helped 
me  win  my  cause,  since  between  these  two  there  was  a 
very  sweet  affection.  When  he  saw  her  first  at  Trenton, 
he  held  out  his  hands  smiling. 

"  Ah,  Joyce,  little  maid,"  he  said  gently,  "  have  you 
forgiven  me  for  my  disloyalty  to  the  king?  I  have 
looked  on  you  ever  as  my  daughter  —  is  it  so,  at  last  ?  " 

She,  blushing  and  tearful,  put  her  hands  in  his,  like  a 
child,  and  kissed  him,  and  so  they  were  friends  once 
more,  though  indeed  with  him  she  had  never  quarrelled. 

General  Washington's  resolution  to  recross  the  Dela 
ware  at  once,  compelled  us  to  move  with  all  the  haste 
we  could,  and  so  we  made  all  our  preparations  to 
depart  immediately.  Upon  the  eve  of  the  day  that  we 
had  chosen,  I  found  the  opportunity,  at  last,  to  thank 
Dorothy.  She  had  avoided  all  acknowledgment  of 
her  aid  and  constant  friendship,  and  even  now  shrank 
from  any  mention  of  it.  I  remember  well  how  she 
looked  as  she  stood  there  in  the  hall,  in  her  simple 
gown,  which  was  the  soft  gray  color  of  a  summer  cloud, 


382  A    YANKEE    VOLUNTEER. 

with  a  white  kerchief  folded  on  her  bosom.  I  had 
never  seen  her  face  so  pale  nor  her  clear  eyes  so  dark. 
She  put  away  my  thanks,  and  told  me  that  I  owed  her 
nothing. 

"  Nay,"  I  said,  smiling,  "  whom  then  must  I  thank,  if 
not  my  good  angel  ?  " 

"Some  one  who  deserves  it  more,"  she  answered 
simply.  "  Lady  Talbot  and  Joyce  were  wearing  out  their 
hearts  in  New  York.  I  would  have  been  less  than  kind 
had  I  not  tried  to  help  them." 

"  As  you  helped  me,"  I  said  gravely,  "as  you  help  us 
all,  —  kind,  gentle,  generous,  —  surely  your  own  good 
ness  blesses  you  ! " 

At  this,  she  smiled.  "  I  need  the  blessing,"  she 
answered  in  a  low  tone,  "  but  I  deserve  it  not.  I  wish 
you  all  happiness  —  "  she  added.  "  I  have  not  spoken 
of  it  before,  but  it  was  not  from  lack  of  appreciation  of 
Joyce,  for  I  love  her.  May  you  be  happy  —  as  you 
both  deserve  ! " 

"To  you  I  owe  it,"  I  replied,  and  took  her  hands 
and  kissed  them. 

She  looked  at  me  with  a  white  face ;  then  without  a 
word  she  snatched  away  her  hands,  and  the  tears  ran 
down  her  cheeks.  As  suddenly,  she  fled  from  me, 
running  up  the  stairs,  and  though  I  called  to  her,  she 
turned  not,  but  went  on.  I  stood  amazed,  looking 
upward  and  not  knowing  what  to  think.  I  feared  that 
in  my  rough  and  blundering  way  I  had  offended  her, 
and  yet  I  knew  not  how.  While  I  stood  thus,  sore 
perplexed,  my  love  came  from  one  of  the  rooms  where 
sat  the  others,  and  to  her  I  told  all  that  had  happened, 
told  her  that  I  greatly  feared  that  I  had  offended 
Dorothy,  and  nothing  was  further  from  my  heart. 
Joyce  smiled,  saying  that  she  was  sure  I  had  given  no 


A   LOYALIST  SURRENDERS.  383 

offence,  at  which  I  declared  that  the  ways  of  women 
were  past  finding  out,  and  if  I  had  not  offended  I  could 
not  understand  Dorothy's  tears.  Joyce  made  no  answer 
to  this,  at  first,  but  after  a  while  she  smiled. 

"  You  are  dull,"  she  said  softly ;  "  bless  your  loyal 
heart  for  the  dulness." 

"  Dull  I  may  be,"  I  replied,  "  but  never  thought  to 
hear  you  call  me  loyal,  so  long  was  I  a  rebel  Yankee 
in  your  eyes." 

At  which  she  laughed  softly,  looking  at  me  with 
shining  eyes. 

"  A  rebel  you  are,  sir,"  she  said  sweetly;  •'*  and  so  am 
I  a  rebel,  for  the  love  of  you  !  " 


THE   END. 


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